Bengaluru: A forensic examination of electronic devices seized from former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna has reportedly found dozens of pornographic videos on a mobile phone he was allegedly using inside prison.
The phone, along with a charger, a pen drive and a notebook, was recovered during a surprise raid conducted by Crime Branch officials at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on August 11. Revanna was reportedly caught using the device inside his barrack.
The mobile phone and pen drive were subsequently sent for forensic analysis. While the phone allegedly contained dozens of pornographic videos, the pen drive was found to have web series, according to the findings cited in the report, NDTV reported.
Authorities had earlier suspended a prison official and ordered an inquiry after the mobile phone was found in Revanna’s possession. Two other prison officials were also reportedly suspended over alleged dereliction of duty.
Revanna Serving Life Term
Revanna is the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and the nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. He is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in a rape case.
The former MP was found guilty of raping a 48-year-old woman and circulating videos of the assault. The survivor had worked as domestic help at the Revanna family’s farmhouse in Holenarasipura, in Karnataka’s Hassan district.
According to her allegations, Revanna had sexually assaulted her repeatedly since 2021. She also accused him of recording the assaults and threatening to make the videos public if she disclosed the abuse.
The latest findings are likely to form part of the investigation into how Revanna obtained the phone and whether he used it to communicate with people outside the prison. A recent report said the device had applications including WhatsApp and Facebook installed on it.
Personal mobile phones, SIM cards and other unauthorised electronic communication devices are prohibited inside prisons. Inmates are generally allowed to communicate only through monitored landlines, public call offices or approved video-calling facilities.