Karnataka HC scraps order shifting PSI scam accused to Mysuru jail

Kalaburagi: Kalaburagi bench of the high court has set aside a district court order that permitted the transfer of PSI recruitment scam accused Rudragouda Patil alias RD Patil from Kalaburagi central jail to Mysuru Central Prison.The court directed authorities to shift Patil back to Kalaburagi central jail, making his return imminent. Patil has been lodged in judicial custody at Kalaburagi jail since Nov 11, 2023, and faces over 20 cases across the state.Kalaburagi principal district and sessions court had approved his transfer on Jan 27, 2026, citing security concerns following reports of disputes between Patil and jail officials. He was shifted to Mysuru Central Prison the next day.Challenging the order, Patil's wife, Shobha Patil, filed a writ petition before the high court. Her counsel argued that the district court allowed the transfer without hearing Patil and without assigning valid reasons, amounting to a violation of principles of natural justice.The state defended the transfer on security grounds but admitted that the accused was not given an opportunity to present his case before the order was passed.After hearing the petition, a bench led by Justice S Vishwajith Shetty observed that the district court had neither recorded reasons nor given the undertrial an opportunity to object to the transfer. The high court consequently directed that Patil be immediately shifted back to Kalaburagi central jail.The court also clarified that jail authorities are free to initiate fresh transfer proceedings in accordance with the law, if required.