Karnataka Prisons DIG Somashekar in Police Custody Over Alleged Use of Forged SC Order to Free Life Convict

BENGALURU, OCT 5: Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M Somashekar has been taken into police custody in connection with the alleged release of a life convict from Bengaluru Central Prison in 2018 based on a forged Supreme Court order.

Somashekar, who was serving as the Chief Superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison at the time of the incident, was taken into custody on October 4 and produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody for interrogation, according to reports.

The case relates to the release of convict Shankar A, who was serving a life sentence in a kidnapping-for-ransom case. Police allege that Shankar was released from prison in November 2018 on the basis of a purported Supreme Court order directing his release. The order was later found to be forged.

Investigators suspect that a prison official may have been involved in forging the purported court order and/or facilitating its use to secure the convict's release. Somashekar's alleged role in the matter is currently under investigation.

The probe is examining how the purported judicial order reached the prison authorities, whether proper verification procedures were followed and the role of officials who authorised or facilitated Shankar's release.

Police are also investigating the possible involvement of other prison officials in the alleged forgery and the subsequent release of the life convict.

Further details regarding the investigation and the specific allegations against Somashekar are awaited.