Mysuru: The bakery unit at Mysuru Central Jail campus has been temporarily closed following the death of three inmates who consumed liquid essence used in cake preparation.

The deceased inmates — Nagaraj from Kollegal, Ramesh from Hassan and Madesh from Sathagalli — suffered severe complications after ingesting the chemical.

They were reportedly preparing cakes for New Year celebrations in the jail’s bakery unit. On Dec. 24, they consumed the liquid essence, leading to acute stomach pain. Despite being rushed to the hospital for treatment, the inmates could not be saved, according to jail authorities.

DIG of Prisons, K.C. Divyashree, has launched an investigation into the incident, and a judicial inquiry is being conducted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate. Furthermore, the Mandi Mohalla Police have taken up the case as an instance of unnatural death and are investigating.

Superintendent of Central Jail, P.S. Ramesh, stated that the bakery unit, run by inmates, has been shut down as a precautionary measure. The decision to reopen the facility will be taken after the completion of the ongoing investigations. This incident has raised concerns over safety protocols and the handling of materials within the jail premises.