Inmates at Hindalga Jail in Belgaum staged a protest on Sunday, demanding access to tobacco, beedi, and cigarettes after photos of actor Darshan holding a cigarette inside Bengaluru Central Prison went viral. The inmates, numbering over 500, most of whom are undertrials, skipped breakfast as part of their protest, insisting they should be allowed the same privileges Darshan reportedly had while in Bengaluru prison.
The prisoners threatened to skip lunch as well if their demands were not met. Krishnamurthy, the superintendent of Hindalga jail, confirmed that the inmates wanted permission to purchase tobacco products from outside or through visitors. He explained that while prisoners previously had this allowance, it was revoked by a recent prison ministry order.
The protest was sparked by a viral photo of actor Darshan relaxing with known criminals on the premises of Bengaluru Central Prison. Darshan, along with nine co-accused, is currently jailed for the murder of S. Renukaswamy, a fan who had sent inappropriate messages to Darshan’s friend, actress Pavithra Gowda. The actor and 16 associates were arrested in June, with four of them already transferred to Tumakuru jail. Following the viral images and public outcry, Darshan was moved to Ballari prison.
In response to the scandal, the Karnataka government suspended nine prison officials after photos showed Darshan smoking and socializing with notorious criminals inside the high-security facility. Additionally, a video clip surfaced showing Darshan making a video call from the prison to Sathya J, the son of a former rowdy-sheeter.
