A day after a top prison official alleged that incarcerated AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala paid Rs 2 crore as a bribe to senior State prison officials to provide special facilities, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered a high-level probe into the allegations.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Prisons) D Roopa alleged that Sasikala, who is serving a sentence in a corruption case at the high-security central prison on the outskirts of Bengaluru, has allegedly been provided special facilities, including a separate kitchen.
The officer also alleged that Abdul Karim Telgi, convicted in the stamp paper
scam, too has been provided special privileges, like undertrials as his aides.
Reacting to the accusations, the CM said in a tweet on Thursday, “We have taken serious cognizance of the allegation of irregularities in Bengaluru Central Prison & ordered a high-level enquiry.”
In another tweet, he said, “Request all to await the outcome of this enquiry. Strict action will be taken against any person found guilty.”
According to sources, the investigation will be based on the report submitted by Roopa, who has claimed that Rs 2 crore might have been paid as bribe to Karnataka's jail authorities, including Director General of Police (Prisons) HNS Rao.
However, Rao denied the claims at a Press conference in Bengaluru and said, “There is no VIP treatment being given to any prisoner. If the DIG finds anything, she must first bring it to my notice and not go to the media. I am yet to receive any such letter. If she thinks there are allegations against me, I’m open to a probe.”
In her letter to Director-General and Inspector-General (DG&IG) of Police RK Dutta and the DG Prisons, Roopa said, “There are talks of Rs 2 crore given as a bribe for the special facilities. I request you to act immediately and punish people breaking the rules.”