Forensic exam finds explicit videos on phone seized from Prajwal Revanna's prison cell
Forensic examination of the mobile phone seized from the prison cell of convicted former MP Prajwal Revanna has found several explicit videos on the device, while the pen drive contained movies and web series, police said on Saturday.
The devices were seized after a surprise inspection of the barracks of the Security Division at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on August 11 and were subsequently sent for forensic examination, police said.
According to officials, Revanna was found using an Android smartphone inside the Central Prison last month. A video that surfaced later showed him in casual clothes and speaking to someone on the phone. The mobile phone, along with other devices, was seized from Revanna's barrack during a four-to-five-hour search conducted by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) at the prison.
The investigation by the CEN police station found several dozens of pornographic videos on the seized mobile phone, a police officer familiar with the probe told PTI.
However, during questioning, Revanna denied that the phone belonged to him. He claimed that other inmates also used the device and that it came to him on a rotational basis, the officer said.
Revanna also denied downloading any of the pornographic videos, the officer said.
The notebook seized from him contained contact numbers of his family members and acquaintances, he said.
However, call logs showed that Revanna had made unauthorised communication with family members through intermediaries, as well as direct calls to a female friend. The officer said Revanna accepted this during questioning.
He continued to deny owning the mobile phone and maintained that he had not downloaded any of the explicit videos, the officer added.
Police said notices would soon be issued to all those whose phone numbers appeared in the device's call history.
According to police, the inspection also led to the recovery of a prohibited mobile phone, SIM card, charger and notebook from a cell occupied by undertrial prisoner Prathap Rai and convicted former MP Prajwal Revanna.
A case was subsequently registered at Parappana Agrahara Police Station in connection with the seizures.
In a police statement issued on Friday regarding the probe into the seizure of mobile phones from the Central Prison, police said five persons had been arrested and interrogated for allegedly purchasing the seized mobile phone and SIM card and facilitating their transportation into the prison.
The accused allegedly told investigators that the mobile phone had been smuggled into the prison through a prison warder, while the SIM card had been brought inside through an undertrial prisoner, the statement said.
The accused also allegedly revealed that the mobile phone and SIM card were being used by undertrial prisoner Prathap Rai and convicted prisoner Revanna, police said.
On September 8, Rai and Revanna were produced before the court and taken into police custody for three days for interrogation. On September 10, they were sent back to prison following the court's order, police added. (with inputs from PTI)
