Sun Nov 09 01:39:57 UTC 2025: News Article: Security Lapses Exposed at Bengaluru Central Jail; Inmates Seen with Phones and TVs

Bengaluru, India – A major security breach has been uncovered at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru, with videos surfacing that show high-profile inmates enjoying unauthorized privileges, including the use of mobile phones and access to television.

The leaked footage features Zuhaib Hameed Shakeel Manna, an alleged ISIS recruiter, casually using a phone within the prison walls. Manna, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is accused of radicalizing Muslim youth and recruiting them to join ISIS in Syria.

Adding to the controversy, another video reveals Umesh Reddy, convicted in multiple rape and murder cases, possessing three mobile phones – two Android and one keypad model. Sources suggest that jail staff were aware of Reddy’s activities. Pictures also emerged of Tarun Raju, arrested in connection with the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, using a phone and cooking within the jail premises.

The revelations have sparked outrage and prompted immediate action from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has assured a thorough investigation. The Prisons Department has already launched an inquiry, with ADGP (Prisons) PV Anand Reddy conducting an on-site inspection and questioning inmates, officials, and staff.

Preliminary investigations suggest the videos are from 2023 and 2025. Authorities are now focused on determining how the mobile phones were smuggled into the high-security facility, identifying those responsible for providing the devices, and pinpointing the source of the video leaks.

The Chief Superintendent of the Central Prison has been instructed to file police complaints and initiate legal action against all those involved. Additionally, the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (South Zone) has been tasked with conducting a departmental inquiry and submitting a comprehensive report. The investigation is ongoing as authorities scramble to address the significant security failures at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.

Read More