Prison officials catch inmate with phone during surprise inspection

Mobile phones continue to ring unabated despite high security system in the Central prison of Parappana Agarahara Central Prison Complex in place.

The prison officials caught an inmate with a mobile phone amidst high drama during a surprise inspection carried out on September 23.

The inspection team led by Chief Superintendent K. Suresh and staff went to check at tower 1 barrack 1 at around 8 p.m., and caught an under trail prisoner identified as Essoh Germain, behaving suspiciously. The accused did not allow the staff to enter the barrack, allegedly manhandled and splashed sambar on them to prevent them from checking. With great difficulty, the officials managed to frisk him and recovered a mobile phone with a SIM card concealed in his undergarments.

Soon in his defence, the accused allegedly banged his head against the wall and was injured. He was rushed to the prison hospital for treatment while Superintendent of Prison Imaam Saab Myageri, filed a complaint with the Parappana Agarahara police for further investigations.

Based on the complaint, the police on Wednesday registered a FIR against Essoh Germain, charging him under Karnataka Prison Act, 1963 and also under sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty), 352 (intentional insults that are likely to cause a breach of public peace) and 323 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property) of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.

The police are now verifying the seized phone to ascertain his activities during the stay in the prison and also probing to identify the source of the mobile phone.