A 27-year-old woman named Rithika Rai was apprehended for trying to smuggle SIM cards and narcotics into Bengaluru’s Central Prison. The incident took place during a routine screening of visitors on March 26 at 4 PM in the General Interview Section of the facility. Rithika, who had a visitor pass to meet an undertrial prisoner, Farhan Khan, was found with prohibited substances and Airtel 5G SIM cards hidden in her private parts.
The security personnel, suspecting foul play, conducted a thorough physical search of Rithika, leading to the discovery of three packets of banned substances and the SIM cards. The confiscated items, including approximately 30 grams of ganja and other drugs, were sealed in the presence of senior prison security officials for further investigation. A case has been registered against Rithika Rai under the Karnataka Prisons (Amendment) Act, 2022, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act based on a complaint filed by the Assistant Sub-Inspector.
Authorities revealed that Rithika attempted to evade security protocols to deliver the contraband to the inmate. Supporting evidence, such as statements from involved staff, details of the prisoner, and the visitor pass, has been submitted as part of the ongoing investigation. This incident follows previous cases of attempted smuggling in Bengaluru prisons, emphasizing the continuous challenges faced by prison authorities in preventing illegal activities within correctional facilities.
