In response to the preferential treatment given to actor Darshan at Parappana Agrahara Jail, Ballari Jail has implemented stringent security protocols for his custody. DIG of Prisons and Correctional Services for the Northern Zone, T.P. Shesha, has directed the jail superintendent to enforce strict measures. According to the reports, Darshan is to be treated like any other inmate, with no special privileges. He is confined in a high-security 10 ft-by-10 ft cell under continuous CCTV surveillance. Only his wife, blood relatives, and lawyer can visit him; no film industry colleagues, politicians, or fans are permitted.
A chief warden will be assigned to monitor Darshan’s cell, with daily inspections conducted by the jailer to ensure security. The cell’s lock and key will be handled only in the presence of senior prison officials, and staff assigned to his cell will wear body-worn cameras.
In related developments, Darshan’s co-accused have been transferred to various prisons across the state. Jagadish, the sixth accused, and Lakshman, the twelfth accused, have been moved to Shivamogga Jail, while Dhanaraj, the ninth accused, has been relocated to Dharwad Central Jail. Pradush, the fourteenth accused, is now at Hindalga Jail in Belagavi.
Darshan, who was moved to Ballari Prison as UTP No. 511, arrived after a five-and-a-half-hour journey from Bengaluru. He refused breakfast and lunch, citing stress. His previous UTP number was 6106 in Bengaluru. To maintain secrecy and avoid media and fan attention, his transport route was kept confidential. The convoy traveled via NH-44 and state highways, with the windows of the vehicle covered to prevent public viewing. Upon arrival, Darshan was transferred to a van for the final leg to Central Prison, Ballari, where he was stripped of personal items and instructed to follow prison regulations.