Forensic examination of a mobile phone seized from the prison cell of convicted former MP Prajwal Revanna has found several explicit videos, police said on Saturday.
Officials also said that a pen drive recovered during the search contained movies and web series.
The devices were seized during a surprise inspection of the Security Division barracks at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on August 11. They were later sent for forensic examination.
Phone Seized During Prison Search
According to police, Revanna was allegedly found using an Android smartphone inside the prison last month. A video that later surfaced showed him wearing casual clothes and speaking to someone on the phone.
The mobile phone and other electronic devices were seized during a four to five hour search conducted by the Central Crime Branch at the prison.
An officer familiar with the investigation told PTI that the CEN police station found several dozen pornographic videos on the seized phone.
However, during questioning, Revanna denied that the phone belonged to him. He allegedly claimed that other inmates also used the device and that it was passed between them on a rotational basis.
The officer said Revanna also denied downloading any of the explicit videos.
Call Records Show Unauthorised Communication
Police said a notebook recovered during the search contained phone numbers of Revanna’s family members and acquaintances.
Investigators examining the call records allegedly found that Revanna had communicated with family members through intermediaries without authorisation. The records also showed direct calls to a female friend, which police said Revanna acknowledged during questioning.
Despite this, Revanna continued to deny ownership of the mobile phone and maintained that he had not downloaded the explicit videos.
Police said notices would soon be issued to people whose phone numbers appeared in the device’s call history.
Five Arrested for Smuggling Phone Into Prison
According to a police statement issued on Friday, a prohibited mobile phone, SIM card, charger and notebook were found in a cell occupied by undertrial prisoner Prathap Rai and convicted prisoner Prajwal Revanna.
A case was registered at Parappana Agrahara Police Station following the seizure.
Police said five people who allegedly purchased the mobile phone and SIM card and helped transport them into the prison have been arrested and questioned.
Investigators said the accused allegedly disclosed that the phone was smuggled into the prison through a warder, while the SIM card was brought in through an undertrial prisoner.
The accused also allegedly told police that the phone and SIM card were being used by Prathap Rai and Revanna.
Revanna and Rai Sent Back to Prison
On September 8, Rai and Revanna were produced before a court and remanded to police custody for three days for questioning.
On September 10, both were sent back to prison following a court order, police said.
The investigation into the alleged use and smuggling of prohibited electronic devices inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison is ongoing.
