Authorities in Bengaluru have launched an investigation after videos that purportedly showed convicted rapist Umesh Reddy and other inmates using mobile phones and having other privileges went viral.
Other than Reddy, Tarun Raju, a gold smuggling case accused, is also seen cooking and using a phone inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.
The videos have sparked outrage and allegations of major security lapses and preferential treatment of inmates inside the jail.
Undated videos have surfaced showing jail inmates using mobile phones and watching TV inside #Bengaluru’s #ParappanaAgrahara Central Jail. pic.twitter.com/pFZK4rMR6l
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) November 8, 2025
Reddy was convicted of raping 20 women and killing 18 of them between 1996 and 2022. In the clip, he is seen using two Android phones and a keypad mobile inside the jail. Jail staff are allegedly aware that this has been happening.
The footage also shows a TV in his barracks.
In 2022, the Supreme Court commuted Reddy’s death sentence to 30 years of imprisonment without remission. He was initially sentenced to death but sought clemency, claiming to be mentally ill. However, medical examinations conducted later showed that he was mentally sound.
Tarun Raj, meanwhile, was arrested while trying to flee to Geneva. Police found that he was the mastermind behind the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he was unaware of the development. He assured that he would look into the matter, news agency IANS reported.
