Bengaluru prison scam: Forged SC order, sexual exploitation expose jail racket
Synopsis
A life convict in Bengaluru allegedly walked free in 2018 using a forged Supreme Court order — a scheme that stayed hidden until the convict deserted his wife. Her complaint to the Prison Department has now led to the arrest of a senior DIG-rank officer and a prison employee, and raised the alarming possibility that other prisoners may have been illegally released the same way.
Key Takeaways
Shankar A. , a life convict, was allegedly released from Bengaluru Central Prison on 13 November 2018 using a fabricated Supreme Court order.
Prison employee Srikanth S. allegedly sexually exploited Shankar's wife and helped forge the court document.
Prison Department North Zone DIG Somashekar was arrested and remanded to police custody until 9 October ; he allegedly made exploitative video calls to the woman.
The case came to light after the convict allegedly deserted his wife and married another woman, prompting her formal complaint.
A case is registered under IPC Sections 465, 468, 471 , and 420 at Parappana Agrahara Police Station .
Investigators are probing whether similar forged documents were used to illegally release other prisoners.
A shocking conspiracy allegedly involving sexual exploitation, forged judiciary documents, and the illegal release of a life convict from Bengaluru Central Prison has come to light after the convict's wife filed a complaint with the Karnataka Prison Department. The case, which dates to 2018, resurfaced on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, after the convict allegedly deserted his wife following his release and married another woman — prompting her to expose the alleged racket in detail.
How the Conspiracy Unravelled
According to police, Shankar A., a life convict lodged at Bengaluru Central Prison, had been sentenced to life imprisonment by Fast Track Court-I on 12 July 2004 under Sections 364(A) and 120(B) of the IPC, in a case registered at Chikkapet Police Station. His conviction was reportedly upheld by both the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. Despite this, Shankar walked free on 13 November 2018, allegedly on the basis of a fabricated Supreme Court order.
The alleged forgery came to the notice of prison authorities only after a formal complaint was filed by Karna B. Kshetri, Superintendent-in-Charge of Central Prison, Bengaluru, on 20 May. The complaint alleged that Shankar had fabricated a copy of a Supreme Court order purportedly dated 2 November 2018, falsely claiming it directed his release.
Arrests Made: Three in Custody
The Parappana Agrahara Police in Bengaluru have arrested three individuals in connection with the case. Shankar A., the life convict, and Srikanth S., a prison employee currently serving as a First Division Assistant in the Convict Prisoner Section — who was then a Second Division Assistant (SDA) — have been remanded to judicial custody. Somashekar, Prison Department North Zone DIG, was subsequently arrested and remanded to police custody until 9 October for further questioning.
A case has been registered at Parappana Agrahara Police Station under Sections 465, 468, 471, and 420 of the IPC, covering offences related to forgery, use of forged documents, and cheating.
Alleged Sexual Exploitation by Prison Officials
The convict's wife had reportedly been visiting the prison regularly during Shankar's incarceration. Police said that Srikanth allegedly sexually exploited her and subsequently helped fabricate a Supreme Court order to secure Shankar's release. During the investigation, her statement also allegedly implicated Somashekar, who was serving as Chief Superintendent/DIG at the time.
According to police, Somashekar allegedly made video calls to the woman and asked her to strip. Investigators have reportedly obtained the purported video and sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination. Police said Somashekar allegedly offered to help the woman secure her husband's release, exploited her in the process, and that Srikanth then helped prepare the forged court document.
Scope of Investigation Widens
Investigators are also examining whether similar forged documents were used to release other prisoners — raising the possibility of a wider racket operating within the Karnataka prison system. The investigation is being conducted under M. Narayana, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Electronic City Division. Assistant Commissioner of Police Satish K.M., Police Inspector P.G. Naveen Kumar, PSIs Mahadevayya and Kalavathi, and other personnel are part of the investigative team.
This case shines a harsh light on the vulnerabilities within prison administration — where families of inmates, often economically and socially vulnerable, can become targets of institutional abuse. The alleged involvement of a senior DIG-rank officer compounds the gravity of the charges significantly.
What Happens Next
With Somashekar in police custody until 9 October, investigators are expected to probe his role in the alleged exploitation and in Shankar's release in greater depth. The FSL examination of the purported video will be a critical piece of evidence. Further investigation is underway, and the possibility of additional arrests has not been ruled out.
Point of View
Often poorly resourced, and entirely dependent on the goodwill of the very officials who may be exploiting them. The fact that this alleged racket reportedly went undetected from 2018 until the victim herself came forward demands a structural audit of how Karnataka's prisons handle prisoner release verification. If investigators confirm that other prisoners were freed through similar forgeries, the accountability deficit runs far deeper than three arrests.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bengaluru Central Prison forged Supreme Court order case?
It is a case in which life convict Shankar A. was allegedly released from Bengaluru Central Prison on 13 November 2018 on the basis of a fabricated Supreme Court order. The forgery allegedly involved prison employee Srikanth S. and DIG Somashekar, both of whom have been arrested.
Who has been arrested in the Bengaluru prison scam?
Three people have been arrested: life convict Shankar A., prison employee Srikanth S. — remanded to judicial custody — and Prison Department North Zone DIG Somashekar, who is in police custody until 9 October for further questioning.
How did the case come to light?
The case surfaced after Shankar's wife filed a complaint with the Prison Department. She alleged that after being sexually exploited by prison officials during her visits, her husband was released using a forged court order — and subsequently deserted her to marry another woman.
What role did DIG Somashekar allegedly play?
According to police, Somashekar — who was serving as Chief Superintendent/DIG at the time — allegedly made video calls to the convict's wife asking her to strip, offered to help secure her husband's release, and exploited her in the process. Investigators have reportedly obtained a purported video and sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.
Could more prisoners have been illegally released this way?
Investigators are actively probing whether similar forged documents were used to secure the release of other prisoners from Bengaluru Central Prison. The outcome of that inquiry could significantly widen the scope of the case.
