Prajwal Revanna moved to general cell after contraband found in Bengaluru prison
The former MP was stripped of VIP privileges after a CCB raid uncovered a mobile phone and pen drive in his barrack.
Former MP Prajwal Revanna has been moved from a VIP cell to a general ward at Bengaluru Central Prison following the discovery of contraband in his quarters. The transfer comes after a targeted raid uncovered a mobile phone and a pen drive, signaling a crackdown on preferential treatment within the facility.
The operation was carried out by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) under the direction of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge. According to Kharge, the raid was prompted by security lapses he personally observed during a visit to the Parappana Agrahara facility two to three weeks prior. "I got the CCB raid conducted," Kharge stated, noting that such operations require explicit permission from the Home Department.
Security Lapses and Recovery
The raid was triggered in part by the viral spread of a 17-second video showing Revanna allegedly using a phone while wearing non-uniform clothing in a cell equipped with a ceiling fan. Upon searching the barrack, officials recovered a mobile phone and a pen drive. Authorities reported that the device contained various OTT applications, highlighting the ease with which the convict bypassed high-security protocols.
Revanna, who is currently serving a life sentence in a rape case following his sentencing in August 2025, had previously been housed in a VIP section of the prison. He was reportedly sharing this privileged space with another undertrial, Prathap Rai, before the security breach led to his relocation to a standard cell.
Institutional Implications
The incident has exposed significant security vulnerabilities and potential corruption within one of the city's most secure institutions. The ability of a high-profile prisoner to maintain access to digital communication and entertainment services suggests a systemic failure in prison management and oversight.
Beyond the prison walls, the discovery has sparked a political confrontation ahead of the Monsoon Assembly Session. The BJP and JD(S) have leveraged the security breach to demand the resignation of the Minister for Planning and Statistics, B. Nagendra, arguing that the lapses reflect a broader failure of governance and administration.
Next Steps
Prison authorities are now reviewing the circumstances that allowed contraband to enter the VIP wing. While the immediate result has been the relocation of Revanna to a general population cell, further investigations are expected to determine if other inmates were receiving similar unauthorized privileges. It remains to be seen whether the probe will lead to wider disciplinary actions against prison staff or a complete overhaul of the VIP housing protocols at Bengaluru Central Prison.