Rubbishing a report submitted by a prison officer alleging that All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader VK Sasikala, who was jailed for corruption, was being given VIP treatment at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Karnataka, Director General (Prisons) HN Satyanarayana Rao said on Thursday that he was open to a probe being conducted, according to media reports.
D Roopa, an IPS officer in Davangere, Karnataka, stated in a report that Sasikala was granted special access to facilities such as a separate kitchen. The report also said Rao was a member of a team of officers who took a bribe of Rs2 crore (US$3,100) from Sasikala in exchange for special treatment, India Today reported.
However, Rao denied the allegations, telling ANI, “There is no truth to any allegations in the letter. I totally deny bribe allegations for special treatment to Sasikala in jail. If Roopa, deputy inspector general (prisons), has observed something in prison, she should discuss. If she thinks there are allegations against me, I’m open to a probe. The court had ordered to give assistance to Sasikala, and we are only following court orders.”
Meanwhile, Roopa remained undeterred. She told ANI, “I was on a government-sanctioned leave, and when I came back on duty, I found this… Let there be an inquiry on what is happening there. When I see something and don’t report, it’s a lapse on my part. I just reported about the matter.”
Sasikala is serving a four-year jail term for corruption involving disproportionate assets.