Just recently, a scandalous video surfaced on social media showing a notorious inmate, identified as Srinivasa alias ‘Gubbachhi Seena,’ throwing a birthday party right inside his cell at the high-security Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. This outrageous display, featuring his associates, immediately prompted a full-scale investigation by the prison authorities.
Srinivasa, a known rowdy-sheeter, was initially apprehended earlier this year following the alleged murder of his rival, Venkatesha, in Doddabommasandra. His arrest itself was dramatic, as police had to shoot him in the leg when he reportedly tried to escape custody.
In response to the viral video and the widespread public outrage, B. Dayananda, the Additional Director General of Police (Prisons), swiftly initiated a comprehensive inquiry. The probe aims to uncover the full extent of the incident and identify any negligence or lapses on the part of prison officials.
The video footage is particularly damning: it shows Seena adorned with a garland of apples, enthusiastically cutting cakes with a knife, while his fellow inmates cheer and whistle. Crucially, the video was recorded on a mobile phone, an item strictly prohibited in such a facility. This incident starkly highlights not only potential security failures but also serious allegations of special treatment being extended to prisoners.
This isn’t the first time the Prison Department has faced scrutiny over such issues. Previously, the Supreme Court reprimanded them for allegedly extending preferential treatment to film actor Darshan during his incarceration. At that time, Darshan had reportedly requested an extra bed, pillow, blanket, and even permission to walk outside his cell. The officials had assured the court that all inmates would be treated equally, strictly adhering to the prison manual. This latest incident, however, raises troubling questions about whether those assurances are being upheld.