Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 6: Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services DIG M Somashekar has been taken into police custody over the alleged release of a life convict from Bengaluru Central Prison in 2018 using a forged Supreme Court order.
Somashekar, who was the chief superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison when the alleged irregularity occurred, was taken into custody on October 4 and produced before a court. He was subsequently remanded to police custody for questioning.
The case dates back to November 2018, when convict Shankar A was released from Bengaluru Central Prison on the basis of a purported Supreme Court order directing his release.
Shankar had been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000 by a Fast Track Court in 2004 in a kidnapping-for-ransom case. His appeals before the Karnataka high court and the Supreme Court did not overturn the sentence.
According to the police investigation, a forged copy of a Supreme Court order was prepared showing that an order directing Shankar's release had been passed on November 2, 2018. He was subsequently released from prison on November 13, 2018.
Prison official accused of forging SC order
Police have alleged that Srikanth S, who was working as a second division assistant in the convict prisoner section at the time, forged the purported Supreme Court order. He is currently working as a first division assistant in the same section.
The investigation has also found allegations that the then chief superintendent assisted in securing Shankar's release. Police questioned the convict's wife during the investigation, and she allegedly made the allegation against Somashekar.
DIG taken into custody
The case was registered after the superintendent-in-charge of Bengaluru Central Prison lodged a complaint at Parappana Agrahara police station on May 20, 2026.
Police said the subsequent investigation found that Somashekar had allegedly failed to co-operate with the probe and withheld information relating to the case.
He was therefore taken into custody on October 4 and produced before the court, which remanded him to police custody for further questioning.
The investigation is continuing.