Karnataka: It's freedom for 400 convicts on Republic Day

Bengaluru: Home Minister G. Parameshwar is likely to keep the state’s promise of releasing around 400 convicts on this Republic Day. The convicts, who are being considered for premature release, have been vetted by the advisory committees constituted by the Prison Department and fulfill the criteria laid down by the Supreme Court.

According to sources, the Prison Department has submitted to the government the file of around 400 convicts, who can be considered for premature release and have spent minimum prison sentence of 14 years with or without remission. “The file is now with the Home Department, which will seek legal opinion and evaluate the recommendations made by the Prison Department before placing it before the cabinet for approval. If the cabinet approves, the file will be sent to the governor for his assent,” said an official source in the Home Department. “The Prison Department has thrice scrutinised every case file before submitting it to the government,” the officer said.

Dr Parameshwar, during his impromptu visit to the Bengaluru Central Prison at Parapanna Agrahara on January 1 to greet the staff and inmates on New Year, had assured the convicts that the government will release some more convicts prematurely on January 26 subject to conditions, which have been specified by the apex court and the approval of the governor.

The state had released 252 convicts on September 17 last year after careful scrutiny. Of them 147 convicts were released from the Bengaluru Central Prison. In 2006, the then coalition government led by Chief Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy had released 309 convicts from the state prisons on the occasion of Karnataka’s 50th anniversary. This was the first time convicts were released en masse prematurely in the state.