Prisons DIG Somashekar Arrested by Parappana Agrahara Police Over Forged Convict Release

The Parappana Agrahara police have arrested Sri Somashekar, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Department of Prisons and Correctional Services and former Chief Superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, in connection with the fraudulent release of a life convict and allegations of sexual exploitation.

The case against Somashekar surfaced during an ongoing police investigation into how a life convict, Shankar A., managed to walk out of Bengaluru Central Prison on November 13, 2018. Investigators established that Shankar's release was executed using a purported Supreme Court order that was entirely forged.

During questioning by the police, Shankar's wife alleged that Somashekar, who was serving as the Chief Superintendent of the central prison at the time, had sexually exploited her under the pretext of helping secure her husband's release from custody. Investigators are examining his alleged role in facilitating the release alongside the sexual exploitation claims.

According to the police, the forged Supreme Court order showing that Shankar had been granted release was fabricated by another prison department employee, Srikanth S. Srikanth was working as a Second Division Assistant (SDA) in the Convict Prisoner Section of the prison at the time the document was created.

Shankar had originally been sentenced to life imprisonment by Fast Track Court-I in 2004 in connection with a case registered at the Chickpet Police Station. His life sentence had subsequently been upheld by higher courts, leaving no legal basis for his 2018 release.

Police said Somashekar was arrested after he allegedly failed to cooperate with the ongoing inquiry and concealed crucial information relating to the incident. Following his arrest, he was produced before a court, which granted police custody for further interrogation as investigators continue to probe the forged order and the former prison head's actions.