What’s Prajwal’s new routine?

Strap: Once a powerful MP commanding crowds, Prajwal now stamps books, logs records, and awaits court hearings

OB Bureau

Former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, now serving a life sentence in connection with a rape case, has swapped the corridors of power for the quiet aisles of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. Once a prominent political scion, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and son of senior JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna, he is now officially Prisoner No. 15528—a stark reminder that influence cannot shield one from the law.

Inside the convicts’ section of Bangalore’s largest prison, Revanna has been allotted work as a library clerk, handling books for fellow inmates. According to prison officials, his duties include issuing books and maintaining detailed records of borrowings.

“He is entitled to Rs 522 for each day of work, provided he completes the prescribed duties,” said a jail authority. Life convicts like Revanna are required to perform some form of labour and assignments are tailored to their skills and willingness.

Sources reveal that while Revanna expressed interest in administrative work, the prison administration decided his skills were best suited to the library. He had already completed a day of work in this role midweek and the routine promises a mix of order and monotony.

Inmates are generally expected to work at least 12 days a month, spread over three days a week, but Revanna’s schedule is limited because of frequent court appearances and meetings with his legal team.

Life inside Parappana Agrahara is regimented. Daily routines start early, with prisoners expected to rise at 6:30 am, followed by meals and assigned work. Lunch and dinner schedules are strictly adhered to, while personal and legal obligations slot into the remaining hours.

For Revanna, the once-public figure now quietly navigates between court corridors and the prison library, his former political clout replaced by the small, controlled responsibilities of his current role.

Revanna’s imprisonment follows a string of serious allegations. He is the prime accused in four criminal cases filed last year, after over 2,000 obscene video clips allegedly depicting the sexual abuse of multiple women surfaced on social media.

The first complaint, lodged in April 2024 by a 48-year-old former domestic help at his family’s farmhouse in Hassan, accused him of repeatedly raping her since 2021, first at the farmhouse and later at his Bangalore residence in Basavanagudi. She alleged that he filmed the abuse and threatened to release the clips if she spoke out.

The court framed charges against him under various sections, including rape, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and unlawful circulation of intimate images, leading to his recent life sentence in one of the cases. Once a figure commanding public attention and political rallies, Revanna now spends his days issuing books to inmates, maintaining records, and attending legal proceedings, a stark contrast to his past life of privilege and power.

In Bengaluru Central Prison, the man who once held the public spotlight is now quietly immersed in books, his daily routine a far cry from the political battles and social media controversies that once defined him.

Box –

Inside Parappana Agrahara prison

Wake-Up: 6:30 am daily (except for health exemptions).

• Breakfast Menu:
  • Monday: Tomato Bath
  • Tuesday: Chitranna
  • Wednesday: Poha
  • Thursday: Puliyogare
  • Friday: Upma
  • Saturday: Vangibhath
  • Sunday: Veg Pulao
• Lunch: Served between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm.
• Evening Meal: Chapatis, ragi balls, sambar, white rice, and buttermilk.
  • Specials: Eggs on Tuesdays; mutton on 1st & 3rd Fridays; chicken on 2nd & 4th Saturdays.
• Return to Barracks: 6:30 pm sharp.

HL: Khaki meets Khushi

Strap: A first-of-its-kind wellness initiative giving city’s police force healthier routines, support systems, and renewed energy

OB Bureau

For Bengaluru’s police force, life has always meant being on call — long hours, chaotic shifts, meals at odd times, and sleep that rarely follows a pattern. It’s a high-stress job that keeps the city safe but leaves little room for officers to look after their own health. Now, a new initiative promises to change that balance.

City Police, in collaboration with Happiest Health, recently unveiled Project Khushi — a wellness programme that aims to fight the silent threats of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, all of which are rampant in India. For the men and women in uniform, it’s an attempt to restore some order to the disorder their bodies endure.

The programme is not just another lecture series. Think of it as a ‘phygital’ format — a clever blend of face-to-face sessions and digital learning. Over three months, personnel will attend six live classes led by specialists in endocrinology, nutrition, ayurveda, yoga and mindfulness. The digital side keeps the rhythm going with weekly modules, bite-sized videos, tips and web stories.

Adding a touch of modern policing-style efficiency, there’s even a WhatsApp support group, nudging participants with daily reminders, nutrition cues, and exercise prompts.

And the science is built in. Each officer will undergo a full health assessment at the beginning and end of the programme. Tests for glycaemic control, organ function, thyroid health and vitamin levels will help track measurable progress.

Ravi Joshi, Chief Editor and Co-CEO of Happiest Health, called it a much-needed culture shift. “Project Khushi is our commitment to helping the backbone of our society — the police force — lead healthier, more balanced lives. With simple, practical lifestyle interventions, we hope to lighten the burden of disease and improve not just health but professional efficiency too,” he said.

Running from September 11 to November 20, with classes scheduled every alternate Thursday, the project may well set a precedent. If it works, Bengaluru’s police won’t just be enforcing law and order — they’ll also be living proof that wellness, too, can be patrolled into daily life.

 

HL: Kannadigas in Nepal safe: CM

OB Bureau

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office assured midweek that all Kannadigas currently stranded in Nepal, which is witnessing violent political unrest, are safe.

In an official statement, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said, “Kannadigas stranded in Nepal are safe. The Chief Secretary of the State Government and the Resident Commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi are in touch with the Kannadigas who are in various teams.”

The CMO further noted that senior officials of the state government are in constant contact with the Ministry of External Affairs. “Steps are being taken to bring back the Kannadigas safely, as directed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,” the statement added.

The government has not provided the exact number of Kannadigas stranded but maintained that efforts are being coordinated to ensure their safe passage home at the earliest.

The neighbouring country was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned in the wake of a student-led uprising. The protests, which spiralled out of control, saw demonstrators torching the homes of senior leaders, storming party offices, vandalising parliament, and shaking the foundations of the ruling dispensation.

The immediate trigger was the Oli government’s controversial decision to impose a blanket ban on social media, a move that sparked widespread outrage. Nepal has been under severe strain since Oli’s resignation, with escalating protests disrupting public life and posing challenges to law and order. India has already stepped up monitoring of the situation, given the large number of Indian nationals, including students and workers, living and travelling in the Himalayan nation.