Court reserves order on Darshan’s plea against jail authorities for denial of basic facilities
Bengaluru: The City Civil and Sessions Court has reserved its order till October 9 on a petition filed by Kannada actor Darshan, seeking contempt proceedings against Parappana Agrahara jail officials for allegedly failing to provide him the minimum facilities mandated under the prison manual.
The matter came up before the 57th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court on Tuesday. Darshan’s counsel argued that despite court directions, the prison authorities had not provided even basic amenities. On the other hand, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) representing the jail authorities maintained that all facilities permissible under the manual had been extended.
Superintendent Suresh appeared before the court and submitted a written explanation. The SPP P. Prasanna Kumar told the court that Darshan had been given access to a telephone, video conferencing, blanket, bed sheet, pillow, plates, and tumblers. He added that the prison manual does not allow for a cot or special barrack as demanded. Darshan is allowed to walk for an hour each in the morning and evening within the available space. “All basic facilities listed in the manual have been provided. But special requests like exposure to sunlight or a separate barrack cannot be claimed as a fundamental right,” the SPP argued.
Darshan’s lawyer Sunil countered that the court’s orders were being ignored. He argued that simple requests for bedding and protection from cold were being denied. “We are not asking for a golden cot. Only basic needs like mattress and pillow. The jail authorities claim facilities are given, but apart from one blanket, nothing has been provided after the court order,” he said.
The counsel further alleged that Darshan had been kept in a quarantine cell, unlike any other prisoner, and placed next to cells where terrorists were once housed. He claimed the rule of keeping a prisoner in quarantine applied only for 14 days, or in case of violations inside the prison for up to 60 days. “Darshan is being subjected to restrictions not found anywhere in law. Even convicted rapist Umesh Reddy has a room with a colour TV, while VIP prisoners get special facilities. Only Darshan is being singled out,” he argued.
The SPP maintained that a quarantine cell was part of the prison system and the administration was empowered to allocate any cell depending on security concerns. He said Darshan, as an undertrial, could be lodged in any cell. “He has earlier misused facilities. Considering the risks, a separate cell is justified. The authorities are within their rights under the rules,” he said.
After hearing both sides, the court reserved its order for October 9.
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Gross GST collections rise 6.2 pc to over Rs 1.93 lakh cr in January
New Delhi (PTI): Gross GST collections rose 6.2 per cent to over Rs 1.93 lakh crore in January, mainly on higher revenues from imports, sources said on Sunday.
Total refunds declined 3.1 per cent to Rs 22,665 crore.
Net Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues, however, grew 7.6 per cent to about Rs 1.71 lakh crore in January.
Cess collection (from tobacco products) in January stood at Rs 5,768 crore. This compares to Rs 13,009 crore in collections in January last year when a cess was levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods such as cars, and tobacco products.
Effective September 22, 2025, GST rates on about 375 items were slashed, making goods cheaper. Also, a compensation cess is levied only on tobacco and related products, as opposed to luxury, sin and demerit goods earlier. The lowering of GST rates has impacted revenue collections.
Gross tax collections from domestic transactions grew 4.8 per cent to Rs 1.41 lakh crore, while import revenues were up 10.1 per cent to Rs 52,253 crore in January.
