Karnataka Prison DIG arrested over fake SC order to free lifer in 2018
Synopsis
A senior Karnataka prison official has been arrested for allegedly using a forged Supreme Court order to free a murder convict in 2018 — eight years after the fact. That the officer has since risen to DIG, and that investigators are now probing whether other prisoners were freed the same way, makes this far more than a single case of document fraud.
Key Takeaways
Somashekar , North Zone DIG of the Karnataka Prison Department, was arrested by Parappana Agrahara police in Bengaluru on 5 October 2026 .
He is accused of facilitating the release of life-term convict Shankar using a fake Supreme Court order on 13 November 2018 .
Government clerk Srikanth allegedly prepared the forged document; both he and Shankar have also been arrested.
At the time of the release, Somashekar was serving as Jail Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison .
Investigators are examining whether other convicts may have been freed using similarly forged documents.
Karnataka had earlier recorded criminal cases against 88 police personnel , a trend then- CM Siddaramaiah called 'shameful' and 'unpardonable'.
Parappana Agrahara police in Bengaluru have arrested Somashekar, the North Zone Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Karnataka Prison Department, on charges of allegedly facilitating the release of a life-term convict using a forged Supreme Court order. The arrest, confirmed by police on Monday, 5 October 2026, marks a significant escalation in a case of alleged institutional fraud dating back to 2018.
How the Alleged Forgery Unfolded
According to police, a document falsely resembling a Supreme Court order was allegedly prepared in 2018 to secure the release of Shankar, a convict serving a life sentence in a murder case. Shankar was released from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on 13 November 2018, allegedly on the strength of the forged document. At the time, Somashekar was serving as the Jail Superintendent of the same prison — a fact investigators consider central to the case.
Three Accused, Including a Government Clerk
Police have alleged that Srikanth, a Second Division Assistant (SDA), was responsible for preparing the fake court order. Both Shankar and Srikanth have also been arrested in connection with the case, bringing the total number of accused in custody to three. Investigators are questioning all three as they piece together the chain of events from the document's creation to its alleged use inside the prison.
Probe Widens: Other Forged Releases Under Scrutiny
The investigation is not limited to Shankar's release. According to police, investigators are examining whether other prisoners may have been freed using similarly forged documents, and whether any of the accused played a role in such incidents. This broader probe suggests that the alleged forgery network could extend beyond a single case, raising questions about systemic oversight failures within Karnataka's prison administration.
Karnataka's Police Accountability Problem: A Recurring Pattern
The arrest arrives against a troubling backdrop of criminal cases involving Karnataka's law enforcement personnel. According to data shared by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Home Minister G. Parameshwara, criminal cases had been registered against 88 police personnel and officers in Karnataka for alleged involvement in various criminal activities. Siddaramaiah had publicly described the trend as 'shameful' and 'unpardonable,' citing high-profile incidents including an ATM cash van robbery in Bengaluru in which a head constable was allegedly identified as the kingpin. He also flagged the embarrassment of drug cases in Karnataka being cracked by police from other states rather than local law enforcement. The state government had indicated it was examining stricter legal measures and greater departmental vigilance to prevent such incidents. The DIG's arrest fits this pattern of accountability failures that have repeatedly drawn political and public attention.
What Happens Next
Police say questioning of Somashekar and the other accused is ongoing. The investigation will focus on establishing the full chain of complicity — from the forging of the document to its acceptance by prison authorities — and determining whether more officials were involved. Legal proceedings are expected to follow upon completion of the probe.
Point of View
Raising uncomfortable questions about whether internal vigilance mechanisms in Karnataka's prisons function at all. The possibility of additional forged releases is the more alarming thread: if one document could free a murder convict undetected for years, the integrity of release records across the prison system deserves independent scrutiny. This case also sits within a documented pattern — 88 criminal cases against Karnataka police and prison personnel — that successive governments have described as unacceptable but have struggled to contain. Without structural reform of how court orders are verified before release, the procedural gap that enabled this alleged fraud will persist regardless of how many individuals are charged.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Karnataka Prison DIG Somashekar arrested?
Somashekar was arrested by Parappana Agrahara police in Bengaluru on 5 October 2026 for allegedly facilitating the release of life-term murder convict Shankar using a forged Supreme Court order. He was serving as Jail Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison when the release occurred on 13 November 2018 .
Who prepared the fake Supreme Court order?
Police have alleged that Srikanth , a Second Division Assistant (SDA) , prepared the forged document resembling a Supreme Court order. Both Srikanth and the freed convict Shankar have been arrested alongside Somashekar .
Could other prisoners have been freed using forged documents?
Investigators are actively examining this possibility. Police have stated they are looking into whether any other prisoners were released from Karnataka jails using similarly forged court orders, and whether the accused were involved in such incidents.
What is the broader context of criminal cases against Karnataka prison and police officials?
According to data presented in the state legislature by then- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Home Minister G. Parameshwara , criminal cases were registered against 88 police personnel and officers in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah described this as 'shameful' and said the government was examining stricter legal measures.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police say questioning of Somashekar and the other two accused is ongoing. The investigation aims to establish the full chain of complicity in the forgery and determine whether additional officials or inmates are involved before formal charges are filed.
