ISIS recruiter, murder convict caught using phones, watching TV inside Bengaluru jail

Allegations of severe security lapses and preferential treatment have rocked Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail after videos surfaced showing high-profile inmates openly using mobile phones and watching television inside the facility.

The videos — now viral on social media — appear to show Telugu actor Tarun, accused in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case; Juhad Hameed Shakeel Manna, an alleged ISIS recruiter; and Umesh Reddy, a convicted serial rapist and murderer, using mobile phones and relaxing in their cells with television access.

The footage, though undated, has sparked public outrage and renewed concerns over corruption and negligence in the state’s prison administration. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a high-level review meeting and promised “strict action” against officials found complicit.

Prison authorities have initiated an internal inquiry to verify the authenticity of the videos and determine how the prohibited items entered the high-security facility. “Action will follow based on the investigation’s findings,” officials told PTI.