Prajwal Revanna found with mobile phone, pen drive in Bengaluru jail; fresh FIR filed

BENGALURU By  Editorial: Former MP Prajwal Revanna was found in possession of a mobile phone, pen drive and other items during a raid at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru on Wednesday, officials said.

According to prison authorities, a blue-coloured Android mobile phone, a pen drive, a charger and a diary were recovered from Revanna. Another inmate, identified as Prathap Rai, was also found with prohibited items during the inspection.

The raid was conducted by prison officials and lasted around four to five hours. No other contraband was recovered, officials said.

A complaint was filed by Subramanya, a police inspector with the Central Crime Branch, and a case has been registered at Parappana Agrahara police station against Revanna and Rai under Section 42 of the Prisons Act.

Following the incident, an assistant superintendent of prisons has been suspended, while a show-cause notice has been issued to the superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison.

“The concerned assistant superintendent has been placed under suspension on the report of DIG South, and a show-cause notice has been issued to the SP, Bangalore Central Prison. A detailed enquiry is being conducted into the incident,” DGP, Prisons and Correctional Services, Alok Kumar, said.

Prison authorities have launched an investigation into how the mobile phone and other prohibited items entered the prison. CCTV footage is being examined, while officials are collecting additional information to determine whether any prison personnel were involved. Further disciplinary action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.

Revanna Serving Life Sentence in Rape Case

Revanna, 34, is currently serving a life sentence at the prison after a special court in Karnataka convicted him in 2025 for repeatedly raping a 47-year-old domestic worker.

The case was the first of three rape cases and one sexual harassment case against Revanna to reach trial and result in a conviction.

The former Hassan MP, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was once seen as a rising political figure within the Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S). His conviction brought a dramatic downfall for a politician belonging to one of Karnataka’s most prominent political families.

The latest prison incident has triggered a separate departmental inquiry, with authorities investigating how prohibited electronic devices reached Revanna inside the high-security facility and whether prison staff played any role in the matter.