14 July,2017 08:31 AM IST | Bengaluru | Agencies
AIADMK (Amma) chief V K Sasikala was being given preferential treatment at a prison here, a top police official has claimed amid a swirling suspicion of payment of Rs 2 crore to an official for it
Deputy Inspector of General (Prisons) said a special kitchen was functioning in the central prison for Sasikala
AIADMK (Amma) chief V K Sasikala was being given preferential treatment at a prison here, a top police official has claimed amid a swirling suspicion of payment of Rs 2 crore to an official for it, prompting the government to order a probe into it.
Deputy Inspector of General (Prisons) D Roopa made the allegations in a report to her superior DGP (Prisons) H S Sathyanarayana Rao.
In a swift response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a "high-level probe" into the allegations as the two senior officers engaged in a bitter public spat.
In the four-page report after visiting the central prison on July 10, Roopa said a special kitchen was functioning in the central prison here for Sasikala, a convict in a corruption case, in violation of the rules.
Also Read: Banners sporting Sasikala image removed from AIADMK office
Rs 2-cr bribe
"There are rumours that the kitchen is continuing to function despite the issue being brought to your (Rao) notice. There is also a talk that Rs 2 crore has been paid as bribe for this.
"As unfortunately these allegations are also against you, it is requested that you look into the matter and take merciless disciplinary action against erroneous officials," Roopa said in the report.
Baseless allegation
Rao, however, rubbished Roopa's charge against him, terming it "absolutely false, baseless and wild" and said he would take legal recourse against his junior. He asserted no special treatment was meted out to anybody, adding that even in the matter of visitations, ministers, MPs and MLAs of Tamil Nadu were not being obliged.
Also Read: Jail authorities deny giving Sasikala any special treatment
Sasikala is lodged at the Parappana Agrahara central jail here since her conviction in February in a disproportionate assets case along with her two relatives V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi, all serving a four year jail term.
Taking "serious cognisance" of the allegations of irregularities in the central prison, Siddaramaiah ordered a probe and warned of "strict action" based on the inquiry report, if anyone was found involved in wrong doing.
