BENGALURU:
Former MP Prajwal Revanna has been remanded in police custody for two days for questioning over the alleged use of a mobile phone inside his high-security cell at Bengaluru’s Central Prison.
Revanna, who has been convicted in a rape case, was produced before an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court along with his former cellmate Pratap Rai.
Police sought their custody through a body warrant in connection with the alleged violation of prison rules.
During a surprise raid on August 11, Central Crime Branch personnel reportedly found a 5G smartphone inside Revanna’s cell on the first floor of the Parappana Agrahara prison.
The phone allegedly contained applications including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, besides videos. Police also recovered a charger, pen drive and a scribbling pad.
Investigators said some of the applications were password-protected.
During the preliminary inquiry, Revanna reportedly claimed ownership of the scribbling pad, which contained phone numbers of family members, friends and his advocate. Police said Rai had allegedly claimed that the mobile phone, charger and pen drive belonged to him.
Officials also noticed that Revanna was wearing civilian clothes instead of the prescribed prison uniform.
Investigators are now questioning the two men to determine how the phone and other prohibited items entered the high-security facility and whether prison personnel helped smuggle them inside.
The probe is also expected to establish who supplied the phone and when it was made available to the inmates.