Bengaluru, Karnataka – A senior prison official was taken into custody on Monday after a multi‑agency investigation connected him to a 2018 operation that illegally freed a convicted murderer using forged Supreme Court documents. The officer, identified as Somashekhar, served as deputy inspector general (DIG) of Prisons for the Kalaburagi zone at the time of the alleged misconduct.
Arrest and judicial custody
Somashekhar was apprehended by a special team led by Electronics City deputy commissioner of police (DCP) M Narayana. Following his arrest, a local court produced him before a magistrate and ordered that he remain in police custody until October 9. The court’s decision came after a remand application filed by the Parappana Agrahara police detailed a series of serious accusations against the DIG.
Background of the illegal release
The current probe originated from the arrest, last month, of a second‑division assistant (SDA) named Srikanth, who was attached to Bengaluru Central Prison. Srikanth faced charges of creating counterfeit Supreme Court documents that were used to secure the unlawful release of a murder convict known as Shankar in 2018. After a complaint and an internal inquiry, Shankar was re‑apprehended by police in August of this year.
According to statements from officers and staff assigned to the convict prisoner section at the Central prison during 2018, Shankar’s release was carried out directly on the orders of Somashekhar, who at the time held the position of chief superintendent of the Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara. Investigators assert that Somashekhar was aware that the documents produced by SDA‑Srikanth were fabricated, yet he proceeded to authorize the inmate’s release.
Allegations of sexual exploitation and procedural breaches
The remand application further alleges that Somashekhar sexually exploited Shankar’s wife, a claim that adds a grave personal dimension to the corruption charges. In addition to the sexual exploitation allegation, the application enumerates multiple instances where the DIG is said to have bypassed established prison protocols to provide Shankar with undue benefits.
Unlawful parole grants: Records indicate that, despite Shankar having previously absconded while on parole, Somashekhar granted him three separate 15‑day parole periods in 2018. Each approval contravened prison regulations and ignored explicit adverse remarks logged by prison staff, which deemed Shankar ineligible for parole.
Falsified verification records: For each parole grant, Somashekhar entered a verification note stating that he had confirmed Shankar’s credentials by calling telephone number 23390847, which he claimed belonged to the Chandra Layout police station. Subsequent police verification established that the number did not correspond to the Chandra Layout station, casting serious doubt on the authenticity of the pre‑parole verification process.
Official reactions and investigative steps
Alok Kumar, director general of police, Prisons and Correctional Services, disclosed that an insider from the prison had written to senior prison officials, indicating that Shankar was released using forged documents. Kumar said, “It was a petition pending for last four years. After I took charge, I ordered an inquiry and found that these persons had acted suspiciously. Further investigation by city police ended in arresting the accused.”
City police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh added that the investigation extended beyond the state. “To confirm that the accused had forged documents, we sent a police team to Delhi a few months back. There, they met the Supreme Court registrar and learned that the documents were forged,” he said.
The case highlights systemic vulnerabilities within Karnataka’s prison administration, especially concerning the verification of high‑court orders and the oversight of parole decisions. The involvement of a senior DIG underscores concerns about the potential for abuse of authority at the highest levels of the prison hierarchy.
Legal experts note that the use of counterfeit Supreme Court documents to facilitate a prisoner’s release constitutes a serious offence under Indian law, potentially attracting charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, and obstruction of justice. If the sexual exploitation allegations are substantiated, additional criminal provisions related to sexual assault could be invoked.
Authorities have indicated that the investigation remains ongoing. Police are expected to examine communication records, verify the authenticity of the purported Supreme Court documents, and interview witnesses, including prison staff who recorded adverse remarks about Shankar’s parole eligibility.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services department has pledged to review its internal controls and to strengthen mechanisms for authenticating court orders. The department’s leadership emphasized that any breach of protocol will be met with swift disciplinary action, aiming to restore public confidence in the prison system.
The case serves as a reminder of the broader challenges faced by Indian correctional institutions in safeguarding against corruption and ensuring that the rule of law is upheld within their walls.
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