ISIS suspect caught selling shawarma in Bengaluru jail, trail led elsewhere. india news

Last updated:05 December, 2025, 11:32 IST

With access to ingredients and basic kitchen equipment, they prepared chicken and mutton shawarma for the prisoners, reportedly selling each portion at about double the market rate.

Fresh controversy has erupted in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail after authorities revealed an unusual and shocking operation: an ISIS-linked inmate was allegedly running a full-fledged shawarma business from inside the prison. The discovery has intensified the investigation into long-standing allegations that the prison has become a hub of illegal activities, with everything from mobile phones to liquor circulating freely among inmates.

The latest revelations forced prison authorities to launch a strong internal crackdown, leading to the temporary closure of food operations and taking disciplinary action against the staff allegedly involved.

Allegations that prompted a closer look

For months, questions were raised about VIP-style treatment, unauthorized items and secret privileges received by some prisoners. Videos circulating online show prisoners dancing, drinking and openly using mobile phones inside the compound.

In one such video, Shakeel Hameed Manna, a suspected terrorist allegedly associated with ISIS, is shown casually holding a mobile phone. The viral clip forced investigating agencies to take a closer look, leading to the National Investigation Agency visiting the jail.

This investigation created pressure for a deeper investigation and the results turned out to be more shocking than expected.

Sale of shawarma inside the jail

During the internal investigation led by Chief Jail Officer Anshukumar, officials found out that Shakeel Hameed Manna was allegedly operating the evening shawarma business from inside the barrack. As per preliminary findings, he managed to collect chicken, mutton and other supplies with the help of some jail staff.

With access to ingredients and basic kitchen equipment, they prepared chicken and mutton shawarma for the prisoners, reportedly selling each portion at about double the market rate.

Investigators believe he ran this operation regularly, turning the illegal business into a steady income source. A portion of the earnings were allegedly shared with prison officials who helped smuggle the items inside.

What surprised the authorities was not just the presence of cooked food, but the systematic manner in which business transactions were carried out inside the high-security central jail.

allegations of collusion

According to sources, Shakeel did not run this operation alone. Investigators suspect that some prison employees helped in the movement of raw materials into the prison. Items such as meat, vegetables and packaged products, which prisoners should not have access to, reportedly arrived inside without inspection.

These findings come at a time when the jail management was already under question for alleged negligence, preferential treatment and lenient surveillance. The Shawarma incident added another layer to the ongoing conversation about the condition of the prison administration at Parappana Agrahara.

Jail SP ordered action

Following this discovery, Jail Superintendent Anshukumar issued immediate orders to stop the sale of food and close all routes that made such operations possible. Additional instructions were given to tighten security checks, monitor staff movements and prevent any unauthorized entry of luggage.

Officials confirmed that the shawarma business has been completely closed and strict monitoring measures have been implemented throughout the prison. Some prisoners, who had reportedly become fond of the shawarma distributed inside in the evenings, were disappointed, but the administration insisted that any comfort or preference could not go beyond prison rules.

Investigation expanded due to investigation of mobile phones

The entire chain of events started with the video of the accused holding the mobile phone. Once it reached social media, the NIA stepped in to assess whether there were deeper security concerns. The agency reviewed prison practices, investigated unauthorized communications devices and questioned the nature of the facilities provided to prisoners.

Although the NIA findings have not been made public, the prison department’s subsequent actions indicate significant internal lapses that allowed contraband and illegal operations to flourish.

A warning to the jail administration

The episode has reignited debate over how major prisons are managed, particularly those that house high-risk prisoners. It highlights the need for tighter monitoring, stronger employee accountability and better technology to detect contraband materials.

At present, Parappana Agrahara prison is under strict scrutiny, with the authorities promising strict discipline and keeping a close watch on the privileges of the prisoners. But the big question is how did an ISIS suspect manage to run a food business inside the central jail for so long without being caught?