Karnataka DIG Arrested for Forged Release of Murder Convict
A deputy inspector general in Karnataka faces serious charges for allegedly using fake Supreme Court documents to release a convict and exploit his wife.
DIG Somashekhar arrested for releasing a murder convict using forged documents.
Allegations include sexual exploitation of the convict's wife and multiple parole violations.
Investigation revealed systemic corruption within Karnataka's prison system.
In a significant development within Karnataka's correctional system, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Somashekhar has been arrested for his alleged role in the unlawful release of a life-term murder convict using counterfeit Supreme Court documents. This incident has raised serious concerns regarding corruption in the state's prison services. The arrest was carried out by a special police team led by Electronics City Deputy Commissioner of Police M Narayana.
The investigation traces back to the arrest of a second division assistant, Srikanth, last month. He was implicated in producing fake documents that facilitated the release of convict Shankar in 2018. Following a complaint and subsequent internal inquiry, Shankar was re-arrested in August this year. Evidence suggests that Somashekhar directly ordered Shankar's release, fully aware of the fraudulent nature of the documents presented by Srikanth.
The remand application submitted to the court has outlined severe allegations against Somashekhar, including claims of sexual exploitation of the convict's wife. Furthermore, it details how he allegedly violated prison protocols to grant Shankar undue privileges. Notably, despite Shankar having previously absconded while on parole, Somashekhar granted him three separate 15-day paroles in 2018, disregarding prison regulations and staff warnings about Shankar's ineligibility.
Additionally, Somashekhar falsified verification records during the parole process. He claimed to have verified Shankar's credentials by contacting a police station, but investigations revealed that the phone number he used did not belong to the stated police station, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the verification process. Alok Kumar, the Director General of Police for Prisons, indicated that an insider had alerted senior officials about the fraudulent release, prompting an inquiry that led to Somashekhar's arrest.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications of this case extend beyond individual accountability, highlighting systemic issues within Karnataka's prison administration. City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh confirmed that a team was dispatched to Delhi to verify the authenticity of the documents, ultimately confirming their forgery. The case raises urgent questions about oversight and integrity within the correctional system, with further developments expected as authorities continue their investigation.
