FSL Confirms Explicit Videos on Prajwal Revanna's Jail Phone, Smuggling Probe Deepens

A forensic examination has confirmed that a mobile phone seized from former MP Prajwal Revanna jail cell at Bengaluru Central Prison contained 173 video files, including alleged obscene content, along with movies and web series. This revelation deepens the controversy surrounding Revanna, who is already serving a life sentence for rape, and intensifies scrutiny on potential illicit activities within the high-security prison. The phone was recovered during a Central Crime Branch raid last month, sparking a fresh criminal investigation. The findings, released by the Forensic Science Laboratory, reveal that some of the explicit videos allegedly involve Revanna himself, while others are general vulgar content. Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has denied owning the phone, claiming it was used by other inmates on rotation. However, investigators have traced unauthorised communications, including video calls, to family members and other individuals, and have arrested seven people, including prison staff, for their alleged involvement in smuggling the device into the facility. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about VIP treatment and corruption within the prison system. The ongoing police probe will now focus on analysing call records, financial transactions related to the phone's alleged purchase, and issuing notices to individuals whose numbers were found on the device, including women purportedly featured in explicit videos. Revanna and co-accused Prathap Rai were briefly taken into police custody for interrogation before being returned to prison. The next steps will likely involve further arrests and potentially new charges, as authorities aim to dismantle the network that facilitated the contraband's entry and usage.