A contract-based psychologist working at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison was arrested for attempting to smuggle a mobile phone into the facility. Identified as 33-year-old Navyashree K M, the professional was stopped during a security check and charged under criminal statutes for fraudulent concealment and prison violations.
FCRF x CERT-In Roll Out National Cyber Crisis Management Course to Prepare India’s Digital Defenders
Security Check Reveals Hidden Phone
Navyashree, employed by the prison’s hospital wing, was intercepted last Friday by Karnataka State Industrial Security Force personnel using a handheld metal detector. Upon further inspection, a Redmi mobile phone was discovered concealed in her private clothing. Officials immediately handed her over to local police, who filed charges under Sections 323 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Karnataka Prisons Act.
She is accused of attempting to deliver the device to an undertrial inmate. Authorities are now investigating her motive, including identifying who supplied the phone, the intended recipient, and whether she had previously smuggled devices into the facility.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
Probe to Trace Network of Illicit Support
Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Karnataka’s largest jail housing over 5,000 prisoners, has faced recurring mobile smuggling incidents often involving visitors, staff, or insiders. Officials are now reviewing her phone records, visitor logs, and security footage to determine if she acted alone or was part of a larger smuggling operation.
Earlier reports from the region revealed smartphones hiding in rectal pockets or shipped via external deliveries, prompting concerns about systemic corruption within prisons. Authorities have hinted that this incident may be part of an ongoing pattern and are also examining whether Navyashree exploited her psychological role to avoid suspicion.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.