Bengaluru (PTI): Nine prison officials, including Chief Jail Superintendent V Seshumurthy and Jail Superintendent Mallikarjun Swamy were suspended on Monday for allegedly giving special treatment to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently in judicial custody in the Renukaswamy murder case.

The action came a day after an inquiry was conducted after a photo of the actor smoking with a coffee mug in hand in the Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara in the city emerged on social media on Sunday sparking a row.

The picture shows Darshan sitting leisurely on a lawn on the jail premises along with three others, including two alleged rowdy-sheeters.

Others who have been suspended are jailers Sharan Basappa Amingad and Prabhu S Khandelwal, assistant jailers LS Kuppeswamy, Srikanth Talwar, head warders Venkappa, Sampath Kumar and warder K Basappa, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters here on Monday.

"Already seven officers have been suspended. After gathering more information after visiting the place, the Chief Jail Superintendent Sheshumurthy and Superintendent Mallikarjun Swamy have been suspended as it was a lapse on their part,” the Minister said.

He added that if more officers are found involved in this case then they could be either suspended or dismissed from service.

The investigation will also follow to find out who provided cigarette, tea and chairs to the actor, he added.

“Three FIRs have been registered against him (Darshan) since he has violated the prison manuals. Action will be started against him,” Parameshwara said.

He said he has given instruction to carry out further investigation. Senior IPS officials will carry out further investigation. Action will follow based on the report, he added.

To a question, Parameshwara said at present discussions are on regarding shifting Darshan.

The Additional Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services) Malini Krishnamoorthy said the three FIRs pertain to the usage of mobile phones and cigarette on the jail premises and smuggling these items inside the jail.

“Darshan is a party in it. The FIR includes the prison officers and those who used these items as accused. A senior IPS officer will investigate it,” Krishnamoorthy told reporters.