K’taka: Prison DIG held over fake SC order used to free convict
Bengaluru: Parappana Agrahara police in Bengaluru have arrested Prison Department North Zone DIG Somashekar on charges of allegedly releasing a life-term prisoner from jail on the basis of a fake Supreme Court order, police said on Monday.
Police are questioning Somashekar as part of the investigation into the alleged forgery and illegal release of the prisoner.
The prisoner, identified as Shankar, was serving a life sentence in a murder case.
According to the police, a fake document resembling a Supreme Court order was allegedly prepared in 2018 to facilitate his release from prison.
Police have alleged that Srikanth, a Second Division Assistant (SDA), prepared the fake order.
Shankar and Srikanth have also been arrested in connection with the case.
At the time of the incident, Somashekar was serving as the Jail Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
Shankar, who had been convicted in the murder case, was released from the prison on November 13, 2018, allegedly based on the forged Supreme Court document.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the preparation and use of the fake order and the role of the accused in facilitating the prisoner’s release.
Investigators are also looking into the possible involvement of the accused in other similar incidents and are examining whether any other prisoners may have been released using forged documents.
Further questioning of Somashekar and the other accused is under way as police continue their investigation.
It may be recalled that, according to data shared by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Home Minister G. Parameshwara, criminal cases were registered against 88 police personnel and officers in Karnataka for their alleged involvement in various criminal activities.
Siddaramaiah had termed the involvement of police personnel in criminal cases as “shameful” and “unpardonable”.
Parameshwara presented the official figures during a session of the state legislature, highlighting accountability within the force.
Speaking at an annual conference of police officers, Siddaramaiah also expressed strong displeasure over criminal cases registered against members of the state police force.
He referred to high-profile incidents, including an ATM cash van robbery in Bengaluru in which a head constable was allegedly identified as the kingpin.
He also cited drug cases in Karnataka being cracked by police forces from other states instead of local law enforcement, which he had described as “embarrassing”.
The state government had stated that it was examining stricter legal measures and seeking greater vigilance within the department to prevent such incidents.