DG (Prisons) Satyanarayana Rao said, “The court had ordered to give assistance to Sasikala, and we are only following court orders.” (Source: ANI photo)
Refuting a report prepared by his junior officer claiming AAIDMK leader V K Sasikala is enjoying VIP treatment at Parappana Agrahara central prison, Director General (Prisons) H N Satyanarayana Rao on Thursday said he was open to a probe. Rao also denied that he received Rs 2 crore as bribe and said he was following court orders.
“There is no truth to any allegations in the letter. I totally deny bribe allegations for special treatment to Sasikala in jail. If Roopa, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) (Prisons), has observed something in prison, she should discuss. If she thinks there are allegations against me, I’m open to a probe,” Rao told news agency ANI.
A report by DIG (Prisons) D Roopa claims that Sasikala, in violation of the prison norms, is being provided special facilities, including an exclusive kitchen for her meals and extended visiting hours, in the prison where she is serving time following her conviction in a disproportionate assets case. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has now ordered a high-level inquiry into allegations of irregularities.
Meanwhile, Roopa, who resumed her duties as DIG a few weeks ago, said she firmly stood by her report. “I was on a government sanctioned leave, and when I came back on duty, I found this… Let there be an inquiry on what is happening there,” she told ANI. “When I see something and don’t report, its a lapse on my part. I just reported about the matter,” she added.
Roopa, in her report, has also written about the special treatment being given to Abdul Karim Telgi, who was convicted in a counterfeit stamp paper scam, inside the prison. News agency ANI reported that Telgi gets regular body massage from three-four convicted prisoners who are “assigned” to him.
