A former Chief Superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, who is now serving as a DIG in the Department of Prisons and Correctional Services, has been accused by the wife of a life convict of sexually exploiting her in return for allegedly helping secure her husband’s release from prison. The DIG-level officer has now been arrested
The allegation against Sri Somashekar, who was serving as Chief Superintendent at the time, emerged during the police investigation into the release of convict Shankar A. in 2018 based on a forged Supreme Court order.
Police have alleged that a prison employee, Srikanth S, who was then working as an SDA in the Convict Prisoner Section, forged the purported Supreme Court order showing that Shankar had been granted release. Somashekar was taken into custody by the Parappana Agrahara police. His sentence was subsequently upheld by the higher courts.
The allegation against Sri Somashekar, who was serving as Chief Superintendent at the time, emerged during the police investigation into the release of convict Shankar A. in 2018 based on a forged Supreme Court order. The allegation comes as police investigate how Shankar, who was serving a life sentence, managed to walk out of Bengaluru Central Prison on November 13, 2018, based on a purported Supreme Court order that investigators have found to be forged. Shankar had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Fast Track Court-I in 2004 in a case registered at Chickpet Police Station.
Police said he had allegedly failed to cooperate with the investigation and had concealed information relating to the case.
He was subsequently produced before the court, which granted police custody for further interrogation.
