AIADMK General Secretary and convict VK Sasikala Natarajan has been accused of bribing Karnataka Director General of Prisons (DGP) Satyanarayana Rao and city central jail officials for undue favours.
“Sasikala has given Rs 1 crore bribe to Rao and another Rs 1 crore was distributed among officials, including the warden of the central jail, where she is serving four-year sentence in an illegal wealth case for allowing her special privileges,” a local news channel reported, quoting Deputy Inspector of Prisons (DIG) Roopa Moudgil’s report submitted to the state government.
Rao, however, denied the allegations.
If she (Roopa) has observed something in prison she should discuss. If she thinks there are allegations against me, I’m open to probe.Satyanarayana Rao, Karnataka Director General of Prisons (DGP)
In a sensational revelation, DIG Roopa Moudgil said 59-year-old Sasikala was getting royal treatment in the women’s cell, where she has been lodged since 15 February to serve her sentence in the disproportionate assets case. In the report, Moudgil wrote:
As a reward for bribing the prison authorities, from Rao to jail warden, Sasikala gets special menu daily cooked by special chefs in a special kitchen near the women’s cell.
While speaking to ANI, Moudgil remained defiant and said she has no issue with an inquiry taking place into the report submitted by her.
When I see something and don’t report, it’s a lapse on my part. The government should do a fact-finding enquiry and see if my report is correct.Roopa Moudgil, Deputy Inspector of Prisons
The 2000 batch IPS officer is the first woman in the southern state to have been recently (23 June) appointed DIG of the prisons department.
Alleging massive irregularities and rampant corruption at the central jail on the city's southern outskirts, Moudgil said drugs were being distributed to the inmates through various means and select prisoners were given special facilities.
“At least 18 of the 25 prisoners, who were tested for taking drugs, reported positive. From DGP to the jail warden, all are involved in flouting the prison manual,” Moudgil alleged in the report.
(With ANI inputs)
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