Karnataka Prisons DIG accused of sexually exploiting convict’s wife to secure parole; probe flags forged Supreme Court order, verification lapses

The wife of a convict who was released from the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on the strength of what investigators now say was a forged Supreme Court order has told a court that the then Chief Superintendent of the prison, now Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Prisons M. Somashekhar, sexually exploited her in exchange for facilitating her husband’s parole and release, according to the police.

Allegations detailed in court statement

Police said the woman recorded her statement before the court under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. In that statement, she alleged that Srikanth, identified by investigators as a second division assistant working in the convict section of the prison, told her that she would have to “sexually cooperate” with Somashekhar to secure her husband’s release. The police have further alleged that Somashekhar subsequently sexually exploited her.

Staff statements point to irregular release orders

As part of the ongoing probe, investigators recorded statements from officers and staff of the Convict Prisoner Section who were on duty at the Central Prison in 2018. Those statements allegedly indicate that the release of the convict, identified as Shankar, was carried out on Somashekhar’s instructions when he was serving as Chief Superintendent of the prison.

Parole despite ineligibility and earlier absconding

According to the police, Shankar had previously absconded after being released on parole. Following his apprehension and return to custody, he applied for parole again. Although officials reportedly noted that he was not eligible due to his earlier absconding, Somashekhar allegedly granted him parole on three separate occasions in 2018, each for 15 days, in violation of applicable rules.

Questionable verification process flagged

The investigation has raised serious concerns over the verification purportedly conducted before granting parole. Records maintained by Somashekhar reportedly state that he contacted telephone number (23390847), said to belong to the Chandra Layout Police Station, and obtained verification on all three occasions. Investigators later found that the number did not belong to that police station, calling into question the integrity of the verification process cited to justify the paroles.

Failure to authenticate purported Supreme Court order

Police have also alleged that Somashekhar did not properly verify the authenticity of the purported Supreme Court order used to secure the convict’s release. Investigators have questioned why the document was not subjected to standard checks, especially given that the judge whose signature appeared on the order had retired by the time it was produced.

What investigators are examining

Investigators are examining the sequence of paroles granted in 2018, the role of prison officials in processing those paroles, the veracity of the verification claimed to have been obtained from the Chandra Layout Police Station, and the circumstances under which the purported Supreme Court order was accepted without adequate scrutiny. Statements from prison staff and the woman’s testimony under Section 183 BNSS have been added to the case record, police said.

Next steps

The police have not disclosed additional details about potential departmental action or criminal charges beyond the allegations described in the recorded statements. The probe remains focused on establishing how the paroles and the subsequent release were processed, identifying any procedural violations, and determining responsibility for the alleged misconduct and the acceptance of the purported court order.

Significance

The allegations, if substantiated, point to serious breaches of prison protocol and accountability, including the misuse of authority, compromised verification procedures, and the apparent use of a forged judicial order. They also raise broader questions about oversight and safeguards in the parole and release processes within the state’s prison administration.