Pramesh S Jain
Karnataka Home Minister,Priyank Kharge said he personally ordered the CCB raid at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison after receiving credible information that former MP Prajwal Revanna,who is serving a life sentence,was allegedly using a mobile phone inside the prison.
Kharge said any raid inside a prison requires the Home Minister’s approval and clarified that he had authorised the operation after receiving specific and credible information about the alleged violation.
“We have carried out the raids based on credible information,”Kharge said.
The Home Minister said he had recently visited prisons and noticed several loopholes in their functioning and security arrangements.
Following the visits,he held discussions with senior prison officials and sought the Chief Minister’s approval before directing the raid.
The CCB subsequently conducted a surprise operation at the prison,during which a mobile phone was reportedly recovered from the barrack of Prajwal Revanna.
Kharge said he had also directed officials to initiate action against those responsible for security lapses. Suspension orders have already been issued against some prison officials,he said.
The Home Minister said some officers had continued with their“old habits”despite repeated warnings and made it clear that such officials would be identified and strict action taken against them.
Asked whether the government’s action would be limited to suspension and transfers,Kharge questioned what other options were available under the existing legal and administrative framework.
“Should we hang them?”he asked,adding that there were only a few options available to the government and that disciplinary action had to be taken within the existing legal and administrative framework.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of security arrangements at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison following the reported recovery of a mobile phone from a high-profile inmate.
