Video shows serial rapist and ISIS operative using phones inside Bengaluru prison
Video shows serial rapist and ISIS operative using phones inside Bengaluru prison
New footage from Bengaluru's central prison shows inmates, including Umesh Reddy and an ISIS operative, using mobile phones and a TV in their cells, prompting a probe into security lapses.
A fresh video from Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison has emerged, showing inmates freely using mobile phones and watching television inside their cells. Among those visible are Umesh Reddy, a serial rapist whose case drew wide attention, and Tarun Raju, an accused in a gold smuggling case. The footage, which appears to span recordings from 2023 and 2025, has sparked a rush of questions about how such devices reached the jail and who leaked the clips. Authorities say a preliminary verification is underway, and a case will be registered to identify the sources of the phones, their suppliers, the timing of the footage, and how it found its way to the media.
Umesh Reddy, once dubbed India’s most notorious serial rapist, is reportedly nearing the end of his sentence after the Supreme Court commuted his death penalty to 30 years in 2022. Tarun Raju, facing gold smuggling charges, and another inmate, Juhad Hameed Shakeel, described as an ISIS operative lodged at the prison, also appear in the videos, which show them handling two Android smartphones and a keypad phone. The images have prompted officials to trace the breach and tighten controls inside the facility.
In response, the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons has ordered a preliminary inquiry, and the Parappana Agrahara Police Station will file a first information report to determine who smuggled the devices into the prison, who supplied them, when the footage was shot, and how the footage was leaked. Citing seriousness of the lapse, the Chief Minister directed a probe and action against those responsible. The incident has renewed debate over prison security and the risk such access poses to inmates, staff, and the public trust.
As investigators work to uncover the truth behind these videos, officials stress the need for immediate tightening of surveillance, stricter cell checks, and clearer protocols to prevent phone use and media leaks inside correctional facilities. The case highlights ongoing challenges in balancing security with the rights of inmates while maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
Cover image source: Video shows serial rapist Umesh Reddy and gold smuggling accused using phones, TV inside central prison in Bengaluru 🔗
