Bangalore:
Inmates of Kalaburgi Jail in Karnataka are being given VIP treatment, according to videos widely circulated on social media. Photos and videos, which have not been independently verified by NDTV, show them having easy access to smartphones and marijuana.
One video shows an inmate making a video call with friends using his smartphone. Other inmates pose for selfies while smoking marijuana.
Malini Krishnamurthy, director general of police in charge of the state's prisons, assured that the matter would be investigated.
Because such incidents often come to light, authorities have ordered a preliminary investigation, she said.
“An FIR has already been registered. We will investigate whether there is a role for the police officers too. We will take action accordingly… We are working to put an end to this,” she added.
Actor Darshan, accused in a murder case, was recently caught receiving VIP treatment at Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru.
Darshan's personal assistant Nagaraj was shifted to Kalaburagi jail when he was shifted to Ballari. Taking note of this, the DGP Prisons of Karnataka visited Kalaburagi to take stock of the situation.
The case has surfaced amid headlines over the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, allegedly by Lawrence Bishnoi's gang.
Bishnoi is currently in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail and questions have been raised as to how he could orchestrate such a massive crime from behind bars.