Kannada actor Darshan to be transferred to Bellary jail amid viral photo controversy: Report

Kannada actor Darshan, currently in judicial custody for a murder case, is being moved to Bellary jail amid a controversy over alleged VIP treatment.

Updated on: Aug 27, 2024, 19:31:29 IST

By Yamini C S

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Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently being held in judicial custody in connection with a murder case, is being transferred to Bellary jail, according to NDTV. This decision follows a request from the Bengaluru Police, who also sought the transfer of other individuals involved in the Renukaswamy murder case and certain notorious criminals from Parappana Agrahara Central Jail to different facilities, news agency PTI reported.

The transfer follows the circulation of a photo showing him "chilling out" with other inmates at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru. (HT) (HT_PRINT)

This move comes after a photo of the actor enjoying a leisurely tea with a history sheeter called Wilson Garden Naga inside Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Jail went viral and caused a stir.

READ | Here's all you need to know about Wilson Garden Naga, the infamous gangster seen “chilling out” with actor Darshan in jail

In the image, Thoogudeepa appears relaxed, holding a cigarette and a coffee mug while seated comfortably. Additionally, a video surfaced online showing the actor participating in a video call from the prison. This led to the suspension of nine prison officials, including the Chief Jail Superintendent, on Monday for allegedly providing special privileges to Thoogudeepa following an investigation.

Police Commissioner B. Dayananda spoke to reporters and stated that three separate cases have been filed in relation to the prison incident. These cases are being investigated under the Prisons Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He mentioned that during a recent inspection by the Central Crime Branch, no incriminating evidence was found in the barracks, but there are concerns that some items may have been moved before the inspection team arrived.

READ | Actor Darshan's viral pics: 7 Bengaluru central prison officials including jailers suspended

Dayananda also explained that many notorious criminals are housed in Parappana Agrahara jail due to arrests under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA), and there are fears that they may engage in unlawful activities. Consequently, the police have requested the relocation of these rowdies, along with the individuals linked to the Renukaswamy murder case, to prevent further issues.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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