Prison irregularities: Panel recommends CID probe

Bengaluru: A one-man commission constituted under the chairmanship of Vinay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, into alleged irregularities in Bengaluru Central Jail last year, has recommended CID inquiry against senior jail staff for alleged misappropriation in the prisons department. The state government accepted the report submitted by Vinay Kumar on Wednesday. The government had made public only certain recommendations, but had been silent on whether VVIP privileges were provided to high profile prisoners, including AIADMK leader Sasikala and fake stamp paper kingpin Karim Lala Telgi. According to a press note released by the state government, the commission has said an inquiry needs to be instituted against Krishna Kumar, chief superintendent and Ms Anita, deputy superintendent, based on charges to be framed by the ADGP (Prisons).

Other suggestions
Entrust the inquiry into alleged bribery to the Anti-Corruption Bureau

DPAR may inquire if there was any violation of rules by the then DIG (Prisons) D. Roopa, and the then DG (Prisons) H.N.S. Rao.

DIrect ADGP and IG (Prisons) to prepare and seek approval of the revised Prisons Manual as per the Model Prisons Manual, 2016, prepared by Ministry of Home Affairs in a time-bound manner of three months. Direct the ADGP & IG (Prisons) to ensure the action to ensure that the electronic surveillance equipments in jails like CCTV camera, mobile phone jammers are covered by Annual Maintenance Contracts immediately not only in Bengaluru Central Jail but across the State.

Direct the ADGP & IG (Prisons) to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Jail Rules and Manual with regard to deployment of under trial and convicts. It may be recalled that it was DIG Roopa, who had exposed the alleged special treatment to high-profile convicts that embarrassed the State government. Rao had been charged with corruption for providing facilities to select convicts in high security Bengaluru Central Jail.