Pramesh S Jain
Life convict who was released from Bengaluru Central Prison using allegedly fake Supreme Court documents is now facing fresh legal action after an internal prison inquiry exposed the fraud.
According to the complaint filed by prison authorities, convict Shankar A.Aradhya,prisoner number 12503,had been serving a life sentence in connection with a 2001 kidnapping-for-ransom case registered under Sections 364A and 120B of the IPC.
He had been convicted by the Bengaluru City Civil and Sessions Court in Sessions Case No.88/2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment along with fines.
Prison records stated that documents purportedly issued by the Supreme Court in Criminal Appeal No. 6447/2014 were received in November 2018,following which the convict paid a fine amount of Rs.10,000 and was released from prison on November 13,2018.
However,during a later verification process, prison officials reportedly found discrepancies in the release documents.
Authorities suspected that the Supreme Court order submitted for the prisoner’s release was fabricated.
A verification request sent to the Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court allegedly confirmed that the order copy was fake.
Following the findings,senior prison officials directed an investigation into how forged documents were used to secure the convict’s release and who assisted in the process.
Authorities have now sought criminal action against Shankar A.Aradhya and others allegedly involved in preparing fake documents and facilitating the illegal release from prison.
A case has been registered,and further investigation is underway.
