The Bengaluru City Police team investigating the alleged leak of a series of purported videos showing high-profile inmates enjoying unauthorized activities inside the Bengaluru Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara has formally written to US-based tech giant Meta. The police are seeking detailed information regarding the WhatsApp accounts used to allegedly spread the clips across the internet.
Investigators have sent Meta the footage in question and have specifically requested information that can trace the source and circulation chain of the clips.
Tracing the Source and Circulation Chain
An officer familiar with the communication confirmed the specific details sought from Meta:
“We have sought details of the mobile device used to record these videos, the phone numbers from which they were forwarded and the accounts that received them.”
Investigators believe that Meta is capable of providing crucial technical information, including IP addresses and mobile numbers linked to the entire chain of circulation, and are currently awaiting a response from the company.
Complications in the Investigation
The inquiry has been complicated by initial findings suggesting that the footage was captured and circulated at different times:
- Older Footage: One video, which purportedly shows inmates having a party inside the jail premises, is believed to have been shot as early as 2023.
- Recent Footage: A separate clip, considered recent, clearly shows liquor bottles placed on top of an English newspaper dated November 6, 2025.
“The videos are clearly from two different periods. That has complicated the inquiry,” another officer involved in the case admitted.
High-Profile Inmates and Security Concerns
The videos raise serious security alarms as they purportedly show several high-profile inmates engaged in illegal activities:
- Umesh Reddy: The notorious serial rapist and murderer is allegedly shown using two Android phones and a keypad device.
- Terrorism Suspects: Officers noted that some clips appear to show suspects in both foreign and domestic terrorism, including an alleged ISIS member, using phones inside the high-security facility. “If confirmed, this raises serious security concerns,” a senior officer said.
Inquiry Extends Outside the Prison
The investigation has extended beyond the prison walls, involving questioning of external individuals suspected of circulating the material:
- Inmate Questioned: Police questioned a prisoner believed to have allegedly recorded the earlier video. This inmate claimed that the mobile phone purportedly used was seized during raids in 2023 and denied knowing how the footage resurfaced.
- Actor Dhanveer: Actor Dhanveer was interrogated twice, though police noted he was uncooperative. Mobile data retrieved from his phone, however, showed that the videos were received on his device. He told officers he had obtained the clips from a lawyer and subsequently forwarded them to Vijayalakshmi, the wife of jailed actor Darshan. Dhanveer has denied any role in making the videos viral.
Following Dhanveer’s statement, senior officers are now examining whether Vijayalakshmi should be summoned to clarify her role in the chain of transmission.