Parappana Agrahara to turn fortress for order in Jaya case

The entire area around the Central Prisons at Parappana Agrahara will turn into a fortress on Saturday when a special court there will pronounce its final order in a case in which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha is accused of owning illegal wealth. 

“We have made massive security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident,” Bangalore Police Commissioner M N Reddi told reporters here on Thursday.

“Additional personnel will be deployed at strategic places. Senior police officers will personally oversee the security arrangements. The police top brass from Tamil Nadu are also assisting us.” 

The chiefs of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka police have finalised an action plan on security aspects as soon as the court proceedings begin. 

Security has become the biggest challenge for the police of both the states as Jayalalitha, who enjoys Z Plus security cover, and three other accused in the case have to be present before the court in person when the verdict is pronounced, according to sources. 

A number of ministers in the Tamil Nadu government, MLAs of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), senior functionaries and cadre of Jayalalitha’s party are likely to reach Bangalore on Friday night. 

Besides, thousands of people from Tamil Nadu, especially those from districts bordering Karnataka, are expected to rush to Bangalore. In all, a 10,000-strong crowd is expected to throng the precincts of the prison. 

Many of these people have already booked rooms in hotels in the City, a source in the police said. 

The order was to be pronounced on September 20 at the City Civil Court, but the venue was changed to the special court at Parappana Agrahara on Jayalalitha’s request. She not only claimed threat to her life but also said it would be difficult for her to visit the City Civil Court given her Z plus security cover. 

Bangalore police too suggested shifting the venue in view of the security situation. Accordingly, the court not only postponed pronouncing the order to September 27 but also the venue. 

Joint action security plan

As per the joint action security plan prepared by heads of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka police, there will be five layers of security on Saturday. Additional police personnel will be deployed at all strategic places and CCTV cameras installed at crucial spots. 

Platoons of the Karnataka Reserve Police (KSRP), the City Armed Reserve (CAR) and the Rapid Action Force will be stationed near the court. Besides, hundreds of plain-clothes police personnel will be deployed. Not only that, police will cordon off the entire court premises. 

Vehicles moving on the road to Parappana Agrahara will be thoroughly checked. What’s more, intense checking of vehicles at all checkpoints between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is being done. Police are tracking the movement of suspicious elements as well as strangers. 

Lodges and hotels have been asked to strictly maintain the check-in register. The IGP and SP (Intelligence) of Tamil Nadu police recently visited Bangalore and held a series of meetings with chiefs of various wings of Bangalore police, including Reddi. 

A team of Bangalore police, led by Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) P Harishekharan, visited Chennai and met the top brass of Tamil Nadu police for a discussion on the nature of security to be provided. The joint action plan was prepared after a series of meetings.