A mobile phone was recovered from the barrack of Prajwal Revanna, the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan currently serving a life sentence at Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, triggering a political row over prison security and alleged preferential treatment of high-profile inmates. The discovery was made on Tuesday, 12 August during a six-hour search operation conducted by Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials.

What the Search Uncovered

The raid covered barracks housing several high-profile prisoners, including actor Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, and Prajwal Revanna. In total, the operation reportedly led to the recovery of around 10 mobile phones along with chargers and a pen drive across the facility.

The Android mobile phone found in Revanna's barrack was reportedly hidden under his bed. His barrack was shared with another convict, Pratap Rai. Following the recovery, the Parappana Agrahara police registered an FIR and launched an investigation into how the prohibited device entered the high-security prison and who had been using it. Pratap Rai has been named as accused No. 1 and Prajwal Revanna as accused No. 2 in the case.

The Security Question

The discovery is particularly significant given that prison authorities had conducted a separate search of the barracks on 6 August, during which no mobile phone was reportedly found in Revanna's possession. Officials have since been directed to establish how the phone entered the barrack and who supplied it. Investigators are also examining whether the device was being used by Revanna or by Rai.

The incident has reignited broader concerns about the ability of influential inmates to access prohibited items inside high-security facilities, and whether prison protocols are being consistently enforced.

Congress Demands Accountability

The Indian National Congress moved quickly to demand strict action, questioning how a rape convict could obtain a mobile phone inside a high-security prison and suggesting that political connections may have played a role.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, 'His father is a former minister, and his grandfather was the Prime Minister of the country. They consider themselves to be above the law. The way he treated women, the more it is condemned, the less it is. Now that he is in jail, he is violating the law there as well. Strict action must certainly be taken against him.'

Congress MP Jebi Mather said, 'What Prajwal Revanna has done, how he abused women or how he used women as an instrument, everything is on record. Now, what has happened in the jail is not acceptable. This needs to be seriously looked into: how it happened. Maybe political connections were used. So, this needs to be seriously looked into.'

Who Is Prajwal Revanna

Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, the son of JD(S) MLA H.D. Revanna, and the nephew of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. He is currently serving a life sentence in connection with a rape and sex video case. The political lineage of the accused has drawn particular scrutiny in this episode, with critics arguing that his family's standing may have enabled access to a device that is strictly prohibited inside the facility.

As the investigation continues, all eyes are on prison authorities and the Karnataka government to explain the security lapse and ensure accountability.