From ISIS recruiter to rapist: Inmates caught using phones in Bengaluru Prison
Bengaluru – Bengaluru faces a major jail scandal after videos exposed inmates at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison using mobile phones, watching TV, and living in comfort. The footage has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the prison’s security and administration.
The controversy erupted after a video showed ISIS recruiter Zuhaib Hameed Shakeel Manna scrolling on his phone inside the high-security prison. He appeared relaxed, sipping tea while either a TV or radio played in the background. Authorities say Manna used online groups like Quran Circle to radicalize youth and send them to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier accused him of motivating young Muslims by showing videos of violence in Syria.
Another shocking clip featured Umesh Reddy, a serial rapist and murderer, using multiple phones inside his barrack. Reddy, convicted in more than 18 cases, sat beside a television while casually operating two smartphones and one keypad device. Reports suggest jail staff were aware of his access to gadgets. The Supreme Court had commuted his death sentence to 30 years of imprisonment without remission in 2022 after confirming he was mentally fit.
Adding to the outrage, photos of Tarun Raju, an accused in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, also went viral. The images showed him cooking food and using a mobile phone inside the same jail. Tarun, identified as the mastermind behind a gold smuggling network linked to Ranya Rao—the daughter of a senior IPS officer—was caught trying to flee to Geneva.
Following the uproar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promised strict action. “We will not tolerate such lapses. The truth will come out,” he told reporters in Bengaluru. The Prisons Department has launched a high-level probe into the incident. Acting on orders from the Director General of Prisons, ADGP (Prisons) PV Anand Reddy visited Parappana Agrahara for an on-site inspection.
Investigators questioned several inmates, guards, and prison officials. Early findings reveal that the videos were likely recorded in 2023 and 2025, showing inmates sitting comfortably in barracks with phones in hand. Officials now aim to identify how the devices entered the high-security facility, who supplied them, and who leaked the footage to the media.
Meanwhile, the Chief Superintendent of the Central Prison has been told to lodge formal complaints at the Parappana Agrahara Police Station and pursue criminal cases against everyone involved. The Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (South Zone) will conduct a departmental inquiry and submit a detailed report soon.
This fresh controversy has once again highlighted deep-rooted corruption and negligence inside Bengaluru’s largest jail. As the probe widens, citizens are demanding accountability from the prison department and political leadership. With the case now under close scrutiny, authorities face growing pressure to restore discipline and credibility inside Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.
