Karnataka Prison DIG Arrested Over Alleged Release of Life Convict Using Fake SC Order

Parappana Agrahara police in Bengaluru have arrested Prison Department North Zone DIG Somashekar for allegedly facilitating the release of a life-term prisoner from jail using a forged Supreme Court order, police said on Monday.

Somashekar is being questioned as investigators probe the alleged forgery and the circumstances surrounding the prisoner’s release.

The prisoner, identified as Shankar, was serving a life sentence in a murder case. According to police, a document resembling a Supreme Court order was allegedly fabricated in 2018 to secure his release from prison.

Investigators have alleged that Srikanth, a Second Division Assistant (SDA), prepared the forged document. Shankar and Srikanth have also been arrested in connection with the case.

At the time of the alleged incident, Somashekar was serving as the Jail Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. Shankar was released on November 13, 2018, allegedly on the basis of the forged court document.

Police are investigating how the fake order was prepared, how it was used and the respective roles of those accused in securing the prisoner’s release.

Investigators are also examining whether similar forged documents may have been used in other cases and whether any other prisoners were released through such means.

Questioning of Somashekar and the other accused is continuing as the investigation progresses.

The development comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns raised by the Karnataka government over criminal cases involving members of the state police force.

According to figures presented during the state legislature proceedings by then Home Minister G. Parameshwara, criminal cases had been registered against 88 police personnel and officers for alleged involvement in various criminal activities. Then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had described such involvement as “shameful” and “unpardonable”.

Siddaramaiah had also referred to high-profile cases involving police personnel, including a Bengaluru ATM cash van robbery in which a head constable was allegedly identified as the mastermind. He had also expressed concern over drug cases in Karnataka being cracked by police teams from other states.

The state government had said it was considering stricter measures and greater vigilance to prevent such incidents within the police and prison departments.