CCTV footage showing VK Sasikala walking through the main entrance of Parappana Agrahara central jail in Bangalore wearing civilian clothes surfaced on Monday, according to media reports. The politician is serving a four-year term for corruption.
The video was offered as evidence by D Roopa, an Indian Police Service officer who alleged that special treatment was being given to Sasikala in jail. In a report submitted by Roopa, she stated that Sasikala was granted special access to facilities such as a separate kitchen and alleged that Director General of Police Sathyanarayana Rao, along with a few other prison officials, accepted Rs2 crore (US$3,100) from Sasikala in exchange for preferential treatment at the prison, an allegation that Rao denied.
#WATCH CCTV footage given to ACB by then DIG(Prisons) D Roopa, alleges Sasikala entering jail in civilian clothes in presence of male guards pic.twitter.com/2eUJfbEUjD
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017
NDTV reported that the video shows Sasikala carrying a bag and apparently re-entering the main gate of the jail accompanied by male guards. The footage has fuelled speculation that she was allowed to leave the prison by corrupt officials.
After Roopa made the allegation, she was transferred and made the Commissioner for Road Safety and Traffic, while Rao was asked to go on leave.