Former MP Prajwal Revanna, convicted and serving a life sentence in a rape case, was shifted from a VIP cell to a regular cell housing approximately 20 convicted prisoners at Bengaluru Central Prison on Wednesday, 12 August, after a mobile phone was reportedly recovered from his barrack during a Central Crime Branch (CCB) raid. The move came hours after a purported 17-second video allegedly showing Revanna speaking on a phone inside prison went viral on social media.

The Viral Video and What It Shows

The video, whose authenticity has not been independently verified, purportedly shows Prajwal Revanna wearing coloured civilian clothes — not the mandatory prison uniform — and speaking on a mobile phone inside a cell equipped with a ceiling fan. In the clip, he is heard referring to a call he had reportedly made two days earlier. Prison authorities had not issued an official response to the video as of Wednesday evening.

The footage raised immediate questions about the conditions under which the phone was allegedly being used and whether prison staff had facilitated access to the device.

What the CCB Raid Uncovered

The CCB recently conducted a raid at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, during which more than 10 mobile phones were recovered across the facility. From Revanna's barrack specifically, investigators reportedly found a blue Redmi 5G mobile phone, a charger, a blue pocket notebook, and a black SanDisk pen drive. According to officials, obscene videos were found on both the phone and the pen drive. Several OTT applications were also found installed on the recovered device. Authorities said they would examine whether the prison's Wi-Fi network had been used to access content.

What the Government Said

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday confirmed he had personally ordered the CCB raid after visiting Parappana Agrahara two weeks earlier and noticing lapses. 'I got the CCB raid conducted. A raid requires the permission of the Home Department. I had visited Parappana Agrahara two weeks ago and noticed certain lapses. Therefore, after obtaining the Chief Minister's approval, I ordered the raid,' Kharge said. He added that he had directed authorities to suspend officials found to have facilitated irregularities.

Prison Department DGP Alok Kumar confirmed that Assistant Superintendent Eeranna had been suspended in connection with the lapses. A show-cause notice was also issued to Jail Superintendent Anshukumar seeking an explanation.

Revanna's New Conditions

Following the phone recovery, Revanna has been moved to a cell shared with around 20 other prisoners and a single toilet. He has been directed to wear the mandatory prison uniform and has been assigned duties in the prison library. An undertrial prisoner, Prathap Rai — arrested in a POCSO case and reportedly assisting Revanna — had also been housed in the VIP cell prior to the transfer.

Political Fallout Ahead of Assembly Session

The development has taken on a political dimension, surfacing a day before the Monsoon Assembly Session. The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) announced they would not allow Assembly proceedings to function unless Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra resigns — a demand unrelated to the prison controversy but one that the ruling coalition now faces simultaneously. As scrutiny over prison administration intensifies, the Karnataka government is likely to face sustained pressure on both fronts when the session convenes.