Kalaburagi: As the heavy gates of Kalaburagi central jail swung open last Thursday, 68-year-old Durgappa stepped out. But freedom came at a price — Rs 1.1 lakh, to be precise.
The murder convict was set to walk free in Nov 2024 on account of good behaviour during his 12 years behind bars. But a court-mandated fine stood between him and his release. With no family support and no financial means outside, his fate seemed uncertain — until his own earnings as a prison cook came to his rescue.
A farm hand from Jantapur village in Raichur district, Durgappa was convicted in 2013 for murdering his wife the year before. A Raichur sessions court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1.1 lakh, with an additional 18 months in jail if he failed to pay. He was lodged in Raichur jail, and transferred to Kalaburagi the same year.
His life behind bars could have stretched till 2027 had it not been for a remission granted on account of good conduct. The only hurdle? Paying the court fine.
Unknown to him, the years spent working as a prison cook accumulated into a handy sum. Until recently, prison wages were meagre — just Rs 100 to Rs 150 a day. But when Karnataka govt raised the daily pay to Rs 524, his earnings had quietly built up to nearly Rs 2.8 lakh in his bank account.
When prison authorities discovered this, Kalaburagi jail chief superintendent R Anitha stepped in. Recognising the humanitarian aspect of the case, she accompanied Durgappa to an SBI branch in Kalaburagi, where he withdrew the required amount. With two jail staff members escorting him, he travelled to Raichur sessions court Thursday and paid the fine.
The gavel struck again, this time in his favour. The court ordered his immediate release.
Durgappa’s journey — from conviction to an unexpected self-funded freedom — highlights the impact of prison labour reforms and the hidden potential of rehabilitation programmes.