India
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Phone seized from Prajwal Revanna prison cell
The Hindu··13 Aug
A surprise Central Crime Branch search on August 11 recovered a Redmi 5G phone from the Parappana Agrahara cell shared by former MP Prajwal Revanna and undertrial Prathap Rai. The phone had WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix and Prime Video, all password protected. Assistant Superintendent Iranna Rangapur was suspended; the prison superintendent received a show-cause notice.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Anyone following this rape conviction can note the new case is about prohibited devices in prison, separate from the life sentence already being served.
- Prison staff accountability is already in motion: the assistant superintendent is under suspension and the superintendent has a show-cause notice.
- If you track VIP inmate rules, CCB also searched other high-profile barracks the same afternoon, including actor Darshan's, where officials said nothing was found.
What's Happening
- On August 11 CCB officials seized a light-blue Redmi 5G phone, charger, pen drive and notebook from the cell occupied by Prajwal Revanna and Prathap Rai.
- Director General of Prisons Alok Kumar said Assistant Superintendent Iranna Rangapur was suspended for dereliction of duty.
- Revanna said he used the phone to call family and his lawyer; Rai said the device was his; apps on it were password protected.
Why Phones Are Contraband in Indian Prisons
- Karnataka amended prison law in 2022 to tighten penalties for unauthorised electronic devices after repeated seizures from high-security barracks.
- Revanna was convicted in August 2025 by a special court and sentenced to life for sexual assault and related offences; he is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.
- India Today later reported a fresh FIR after investigators said the seized phone also contained pornographic videos, which are now part of forensic analysis.
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