Parappana Agrahara Jail Under Fire as Viral Videos Expose Shocking Lapses

New Delhi, November 10, 2025: The Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara has once again become the epicenter of a major controversy, facing intense scrutiny following the circulation of multiple viral videos that appear to expose a deeply compromised and corrupt prison system. The footage, which has triggered widespread public outrage and political reaction, suggests that certain high-profile inmates are enjoying shocking privileges, including access to prohibited items and ‘VVIP’ treatment, raising serious questions about security and accountability within the high-security facility.

The Content of the Controversial Footage

The recent spate of videos circulating on social media has painted a picture that is starkly at odds with the strict disciplinary environment expected in a central jail, especially one housing high-risk prisoners.

• Parties Behind Bars: One video allegedly shows inmates in a barrack engaged in a party, complete with liquor, cut fruits, and fried snacks, turning the high-security zone into a festive venue. Inmates can be seen cheering, dancing, and using utensils as makeshift musical instruments.
• Access to Contraband: Other clips, some reportedly recorded as recently as a week ago and others allegedly dating back to 2023, show notorious convicts freely using mobile phones and watching television inside their cells.
• High-Risk Inmates Flagged: Among the inmates purportedly seen in the footage are individuals convicted of serious crimes, including:
  • Serial Rapist and Killer: Umesh Reddy, who is serving a long-term sentence.
  • Terror Suspect: A suspected Islamic State (IS) recruiter, Juhad Hamid Shakil Manna, raising alarms about potential external communication and radicalization within the prison walls.
  • Other Notorious Figures: Accused in gold smuggling cases and rowdy-sheeters, some of whom were previously filmed celebrating birthdays with cakes and garlands inside the jail.

The repeated leaks suggest a systemic failure in surveillance and control, enabling a seemingly well-established racket of supplying unauthorised facilities to inmates who can afford to pay for preferential treatment.

Government and Official Reaction

The severity of the security breaches has forced a strong and immediate reaction from the state government.

• Home Minister’s Stern Warning: Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has taken stern notice of the matter. He publicly expressed his strong displeasure, stating, “I will not tolerate this nonsense. Enough is enough,” and warned that such repeated lapses render the facility undeserving of the name “jail.”
• Immediate Inquiry Ordered: The Minister has demanded an immediate, detailed report from the Additional Director General of Police (Prisons), B. Dayananda, to determine how prohibited items were smuggled in and which officials were complicit. The government has vowed to take “stringent action against officials, including jail superintendents” found guilty.
• Focus on Corrective Measures: The state government has renewed its commitment to implementing robust security measures, including the full installation of CCTV cameras and mobile network jammers across all state prisons to curb violations and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The Home Minister suggested a separate high-level committee could be formed if the initial internal report is deemed unsatisfactory.

Public Outrage and Demand for Accountability

The videos have fueled a firestorm of public criticism, demanding that authorities move beyond mere inquiries and establish real accountability for the persistent failure to maintain prison discipline. Critics, including former senior police officials, have argued that the visual evidence of corruption is so compelling that the focus should immediately shift to suspending negligent officers and implementing comprehensive, non-negotiable reforms.

The Parappana Agrahara Central Prison has a history of such controversies, but the latest viral evidence, featuring high-profile terror and serial crime convicts enjoying luxuries, has deepened concerns about the extent of deep-rooted corruption and the safety implications for the public if high-risk prisoners are allowed to operate with such impunity. The next few weeks will be crucial as the state government attempts to clean up the embarrassing scandal and restore credibility to its central correctional facility.