Karnataka's Mandya Jail Superintendent Shanthamma was transferred to Ballari Central Prison with immediate effect on Monday after serious allegations of VIP treatment for inmates came to light at the district prison. State DGP (Prisons) Alok Kumar issued the transfer order following an undertrial prisoner being reportedly found with a female visitor while receiving treatment at a hospital — a lapse that triggered a wider inquiry into alleged irregularities at the facility.

What the Inspection Uncovered

The alleged irregularities surfaced after a surprise inspection by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) Hospital. During the inspection, undertrial prisoner Mohammad Hussain was found occupying a special ward without an apparent valid medical justification, and was reportedly accompanied by a female visitor — a clear breach of custodial protocol.

The incident prompted scrutiny over how certain prisoners were allegedly being extended special facilities, and whether prison officials were complicit in facilitating such privileges.

The Alleged 'Rate List' for Cells and Facilities

A petition, purportedly signed by around 80 inmates of Mandya Jail, has surfaced alleging a structured 'rate list' for facilities within the prison. Copies of the petition, bearing signatures, thumb impressions, and undertrial prisoner (UTP) numbers, were reportedly circulated among media outlets.

According to the purported petition, monthly payments were allegedly collected for specific cells — ₹10,000 for Cell-1, ₹15,000 each for Cells-3 and 4, ₹5,000 for Cell-5, and ₹8,000 for Cell-6. It further alleges that ₹2,000 was charged for changing rooms and ₹10,000 to be moved out of a punishment cell.

The petition also claims that food items were available to inmates for payment — reportedly ₹1,250 per kg for mutton and ₹700 per kg for chicken — and that inmates who refused to pay were allegedly threatened with being 'sent to the gallows.'

Authenticity Under Question

Following the petition's viral circulation, DGP Alok Kumar personally visited Mandya prison and questioned inmates as part of the ongoing inquiry. However, initial findings by jail authorities have cast doubt on the document's authenticity. Officials reportedly suspect that signatures and thumb impressions may have been collected from inmates under the pretext of seeking basic canteen facilities, rather than to record the grievances described in the petition.

Kumar confirmed that the contents of the letter are being verified and that all allegations would be thoroughly investigated.

Government Response

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge described the purported petition as an 'unauthorised slip' and called for a comprehensive investigation — including into who released the document, how a mobile phone allegedly entered the prison, and whether the petition was circulated from outside the facility.

The inquiry is currently underway to determine whether the allegations of VIP treatment, illegal collections, and special privileges for select prisoners are substantiated. This is not the first time an Indian prison has faced allegations of paid privileges — similar controversies have emerged in jails across multiple states in recent years, raising persistent questions about oversight and accountability in custodial institutions.