Subheadline: Karnataka’s prison department has ordered an inquiry after videos allegedly showing alcohol and card gambling inside the jail circulated on social media.
Kalaburagi | September 6, 2026
The Karnataka Department of Prisons and Correctional Services has suspended R. Anita, the former superintendent of Kalaburagi Central Jail, after an initial assessment found apparent dereliction of duty in connection with allegations that inmates were receiving unauthorised luxury facilities inside the prison.
The suspension was ordered by Alok Kumar, director general of police of the Prisons and Correctional Services Department, according to an order reported by Prajavani. The order keeps a departmental inquiry pending and transfers the rights associated with Anita’s post to the new central prison in Vijayapura.
The department has also directed Anita not to leave the headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority, the report said. The order does not establish final responsibility; the departmental proceedings are expected to examine how the alleged violations occurred and whether supervisory failures took place.
The action follows the circulation of videos on social media that purportedly showed prisoners at Kalaburagi Central Jail possessing different brands of alcohol and playing cards. The videos prompted widespread criticism and raised questions about security checks, access controls and supervision inside the facility.
A senior team from the prison department subsequently visited the jail and conducted an inquiry, according to the report. The department had earlier ordered Anita’s transfer from Kalaburagi Central Jail to the prison training institute in Mysuru. The latest order places her under suspension while the departmental process continues.
The reported incident concerns the functioning of a major correctional institution and the responsibility of prison authorities for maintaining security and discipline. The material available in the report does not specify when the videos were recorded, how the alcohol or other items allegedly entered the jail, how many inmates were involved, or whether any criminal cases have been registered.
The department’s order is therefore an administrative action based on an initial finding, rather than a final determination of liability. Further details are expected to emerge through the departmental inquiry and any subsequent action taken by the prison authorities.
