Bengaluru Jail Row: Two Cops Suspended, Chief Transferred After Inmates Seen Partying

November 10, 2025

Bengaluru, Nov 10: The Bengaluru Central Jail has come under fire after several viral videos showed inmates allegedly receiving VVIP treatment, partying with liquor, and using mobile phones inside the high-security facility.

In response, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced a sweeping reform plan, including the formation of a high-power committee, suspension of two top officers, and the transfer of the Chief Superintendent of Prison, K. Suresh.

The committee, led by ADGP (Law and Order) Hitendra Nath, along with Sandeep Patil and other senior officers, has been tasked to submit a detailed report within a month on the functioning and security lapses at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

For the first time, an IPS officer will now take charge of the prison — a move aimed at tightening administrative control and accountability.

Viral Videos Expose Shocking Scenes Inside Jail

Out of five videos that surfaced online on Sunday, three were from 2023 and two from 2024, according to the Home Minister. The footage showed inmates dancing, drinking liquor, and using mobile phones inside the prison.

One video displayed liquor bottles, cut fruits, and fried peanuts arranged for what appeared to be a party. Inmates could be seen dancing to the sound of utensils being banged in rhythm.

Another clip showed Zuhaib Hameed Shakeel Manna, an alleged ISIS recruiter, scrolling through a smartphone while enjoying tea with a television or radio playing in the background.

Umesh Reddy, a convicted serial rapist and killer, was also seen with two Android phones and one keypad mobile in his barracks, which even had a TV. Reddy, sentenced to death for 18 rapes and murders between 1996 and 2022, had his punishment commuted to 30 years by the Supreme Court in 2022 after he claimed mental illness—later disproven by medical tests.

Major Security Reforms and Accountability Measures Announced

Home Minister Parameshwara said, “This issue has been taken very seriously. Officers responsible for these lapses will face action. The government will not tolerate such negligence.”

The government has directed:

• CCTV audits every 15 days

• Compulsory prison inspections by senior officers

• Transfers for officers serving over five years in the same jail

• Technical audits of scanners and surveillance systems

The Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, currently housing around 5,000 inmates, may also see a restructuring or bifurcation to reduce overcrowding.

Government Under Pressure Amid Public Outcry

The viral footage has sparked widespread public outrage, raising concerns about corruption and security breaches inside one of Karnataka’s most guarded prisons.

With the suspensions, transfers, and new oversight committee, the government hopes to restore public confidence and ensure that no prisoner receives special privileges again.