New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday issues notice to Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavithra Gowda, and five others in the Renukaswamy murder case and agreed to examine the Karnataka government’s challenge.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued notice to Darshan and others on the state’s plea against the Karnataka High Court’s bail order.

The state government, the apex court said, apprehended other co-accused would be allowed to take advantage of order passed by the high court in the impugned order.

“Since state is praying for cancellation of bail, it would not be proper to stay the operation of the order as it would amount to cancellation of bail. Yet, to protect the interest of prosecution, if any co-accused prays on bail, the court concerned shall not place reliance on the order challenged before us. Any bail application filed shall be decided on its own merit,” the bench said.

The Karnataka High Court on December 13, 2024, granted bail to the actor Darshan and others.

Darshan was arrested on June 11, 2024, for allegedly killing his fan Renukaswamy on June 8 the same year after he reportedly sent obscene messages to Gowda.

Before the grant of bail, the actor was lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru but when a photograph of him relaxing with some other jail inmates went viral, he was transferred to Ballari Central Jail.

The state moved the top court against the grant of bail on January 6.

The mortal remains of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, an autorickshaw driver, were discovered on June 9, 2024.

He allegedly succumbed to injuries after being attacked on the orders of Darshan, who reportedly urged his fans to accost and kidnap Renukaswamy for posting derogatory comments about Gowda on social media.

The Karnataka High Court granted Darshan interim bail on medical grounds for six weeks on October 30, 2024 but gave regular bail to him and others in December. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday issues notice to Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavithra Gowda, and five others in the Renukaswamy murder case and agreed to examine the Karnataka government’s challenge.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued notice to Darshan and others on the state’s plea against the Karnataka High Court’s bail order.

The state government, the apex court said, apprehended other co-accused would be allowed to take advantage of order passed by the high court in the impugned order.

“Since state is praying for cancellation of bail, it would not be proper to stay the operation of the order as it would amount to cancellation of bail. Yet, to protect the interest of prosecution, if any co-accused prays on bail, the court concerned shall not place reliance on the order challenged before us. Any bail application filed shall be decided on its own merit,” the bench said.

The Karnataka High Court on December 13, 2024, granted bail to the actor Darshan and others.

Darshan was arrested on June 11, 2024, for allegedly killing his fan Renukaswamy on June 8 the same year after he reportedly sent obscene messages to Gowda.

Before the grant of bail, the actor was lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru but when a photograph of him relaxing with some other jail inmates went viral, he was transferred to Ballari Central Jail.

The state moved the top court against the grant of bail on January 6.

The mortal remains of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, an autorickshaw driver, were discovered on June 9, 2024.

He allegedly succumbed to injuries after being attacked on the orders of Darshan, who reportedly urged his fans to accost and kidnap Renukaswamy for posting derogatory comments about Gowda on social media.

The Karnataka High Court granted Darshan interim bail on medical grounds for six weeks on October 30, 2024 but gave regular bail to him and others in December. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa’s associate Pavithra Gowda was released from the Bengaluru Central Prison where she was jailed over the Renukaswamy murder case. Darshan, arrested on June 11 for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and killing of 33-year-old Renukaswamy on June 8, appeared at a Bengaluru Sessions Court on Monday to complete the bail formalities. 

The actor had been hospitalised for over six weeks due to back pain at BGS Hospital in Kengeri, where no surgical procedures were performed. Seven other accused were also granted bail on Friday.

Renukaswamy’s body, bearing multiple injuries, was discovered near a drain in Bengaluru’s Sumanahalli. Investigations revealed that Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda. He was allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and killed.

Initially, four individuals surrendered to the police claiming responsibility, citing a financial dispute. However, inconsistencies in their statements revealed a conspiracy involving Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others.

In Chitradurga, Renukaswamy’s father, Kashinath Shivanagouda, expressed faith in the judiciary. 

“I got to know through the media that the criminals who killed my son got bail. I don’t have the details of it. We have faith in the judiciary. Bail may have been granted, but we have firm belief that the accused will be punished,” he said. 

Darshan’s fans erupted in celebrations following the bail announcement, gathering outside BGS Hospital and performing rituals

Darshan has sought interim bail on the grounds that he is experiencing numbness in both feet and needs to undergo surgery.

Here are 10 points in this big story:

A sessions court in Bengaluru on Monday rejected popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his friend Pavithra Gowda’s bail petition in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to the fan’s murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli in Bengaluru on June 9.

There was no direct involvement of Darshan in the case, nor was he present at the time of the murder, said the actor’s lawyer. However, the prosecution, while opposing the bail, argued that there is strong evidence in terms of technical and witness accounts against the actor.

In September, Bengaluru police submitted a comprehensive charge sheet containing 3,991 pages against 17 individuals involved in the case, which includes Darshan and Gowda.

Darshan is currently in Ballary jail, having been transferred there after photos of him hanging out with three others in the Parappana Agrahara Central jail emerged online in August, sparking row over alleged preferential treatment in jail. 

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Police submitted the chargesheet in the sensational kidnap and murder case of Renukaswamy which has established the role of jailed Kannada superstar Darshan and also detailed the brutal and inhumane torture before his death.

“After being assaulted by Darshan and his gang, Renukaswamy’s chest bones were broken. There are a total of 39 injury marks all over his body. There is also a deep cut on the victim’s head,” reads the chargesheet.

It added that the gang reportedly used a megger machine, an electrical device used to measure insulation resistance, to deliver electric shocks to Renukaswamy’s private parts.

“Darshan and his gang used the megger device to damage Renukaswamy’s testicle,” the chargesheet says.

Another source said that Renukaswamy endured unheard-of and inhuman torture before being hacked to death.

“After committing the murder, Darshan and the other accused used their influence and money to dispose of the body and attempted to destroy evidence. They also tried to frame other individuals to escape charges,” the chargesheet said.

It said that with the common intention of committing the crime, they destroyed physical, technical, and scientific evidence and attempted to destroy further evidence.

Darshan is named as the second accused in the case, and his legal team is preparing to submit a bail plea. However, police sources said that since he is booked in three new cases related to luxury treatment inside the prison, obtaining bail will not be an easy task.

The police found traces of Renukaswamy’s blood on the clothes seized from Darshan. They also retrieved messages sent by his associates during the kidnapping, confinement, torture, murder, and disposal of Renukaswamy’s body.

After the incident, Darshan had gone to Mysuru for the shoot of his upcoming movie, “Devil.” A team from Bengaluru Police, headed by ACP Chandan Kumar, arrested him in a hotel after cracking the case.

Sources said Darshan tried to resist the arrest. However, ACP Chandan Kumar ordered him to get into the police jeep or face being dragged in, with further strong action as per the rules.

Darshan is one of the few superstars in the Kannada film industry. The budding industry, which had started to make its mark at the national level, has suffered a significant setback in light of these developments.

In the chargesheet, Pavithra Gowda is labelled as A-1, and Darshan as A-2. Fourteen individuals have been charged with murder, and 14 others face charges of abduction and murder. Karthik alias Kappe, Keshavamurthy, and Nikhil Nayak are charged with destruction of evidence.

The first volume contains a summary report of the case. The second volume comprises voluntary statements of 17 accused individuals. Volume number three has details of evidence both direct and circumstantial. The fourth volume has the post-mortem and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports.

The fifth volume contains the FSL and CSFL analysis.

Sources said that after the receipt of the chargesheet copies to all the accused persons, the 24th ACMM court will commit the case and transfer it to the sessions court.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

The Karnataka High Court emphasised on Wednesday that all citizens and undertrial prisoners are entitled to a nutritious diet, without any distinctions based on their social or financial status.

This observation was made by Justice M Nagaprasanna while hearing a petition filed by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is jailed in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Darshan had challenged a magistrate court order that rejected his request for home-cooked food, bedding, and cutlery in prison.

Senior advocate Prabhuling K Navadgi, representing Thoogudeepa, argued that the actor required nutritional food as indicated by a medical certificate.

Justice Nagaprasanna said, “If he needs a special diet due to health issues, doctors will provide it. This is not just about Darshan; every citizen or undertrial prisoner has the right to nutritious food. Distinctions cannot be made based on one’s status.”

The judge further noted, “Medical requirements will be met for anyone, whether a celebrity or not. There are many prisoners who may also need a better diet.”

Mr Navadgi contended that the Magistrate court misinterpreted Rule 728 of the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Manual, 2021, which governs conduct within prisons.

He argued that this rule cannot override the Prison Act, specifically Section 30, which allows for home-cooked food for undertrial prisoners with the necessary approvals.

However, the court maintained that while Section 30 outlines the procedure, the Prison Manual provides the guidelines for regulation, a principle that is statutorily accepted.

Mr Navadgi requested that the authorities objectively consider Darshan’s request for home-cooked food and other amenities in consultation with a medical officer.

The Special Public Prosecutor informed the court that two representations had been made to the authorities and requested two weeks to consider them and issue appropriate orders.

Justice Nagaprasanna directed the respondents to review the representations according to the law and present their findings on August 20. The court also noted that the issue raised requires a thorough examination and will remain pending until the authorities provide a resolution.

Darshan along with his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others was arrested for allegedly giving a torturous death to his fan Renukaswamy from Chitradurga on June 8.

Renukaswamy had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda on his social media handle. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

The Karnataka High Court has directed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is an accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, to move the magistrate court with the plea for home food, bed, and clothes while in prison.

The court directed Darshan’s counsel to submit the application to the magistrate by Saturday, who is to make a decision by July 26.

Justice S R Krishna Kumar gave the direction on Friday and postponed the hearing to July 29, on Darshan’s petition seeking permission for home food, bedding, clothes, and books during his incarceration.

Previously, the prosecution had objected, arguing that Darshan should first appeal to the Inspector General of Prisons for home food and, if denied, only then approach the magistrate.

They also contested the request for bedding and clothes, citing prison regulations for murder case suspects and raised concerns about the implications of allowing home food.

Darshan was arrested on June 11 on charges of assault and murder of his fan Renukaswamy from Chitradurga for allegedly sending obscene messages to his friend Pavithra Gowda on social media.

Pavithra is also a key accused in the case and is in jail. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

The wife of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who has been arrested in a murder case, on Wednesday urged his fans to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds.

Vijayalakshmi shared a fan art on her Instagram account along with a message in which she called her husband’s fans “celebrities” and said that the actor was “touched” by the support he was getting.

“Call for all our celebrities. You all know how much Darshan loves you. It is sad that we are in this situation today and that we have to stay at a distance from him. I have spoken to him in detail about the situation outside and it has touched his heart,” Vijayalakshmi said.

Darshan has urged all his celebrities to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds. He is sure that he will be a part of your prayers, she said.

“We have immense faith in the judicial system of our nation and am sure there will be brighter days ahead. I firmly believe that those attempting to harm Darshan through words/action during his absence will be taken care of by Mother Chamundeshwari,” she said.

Vijayalakshmi urged the actor’s fans to keep supporting him in these hard times, saying, “Your being calm will be our biggest strength. This too shall pass. Truth will Triumph.”

A total of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are accused in the alleged killing of Renukaswamy.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9.

Darshan and the other accused are currently in judicial custody.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Ravi, the driver involved in a murder case in which popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda are accused, told police that he was instructed to take the fall for the murder but refused. 

According to Ravi, Renuka Swamy, whose body was discovered later, did not anticipate the assault that awaited him when he got into his cab. Ravi stated that Mr Swamy was not forcibly taken but was persuaded by others to join them. In the cab, the others accused in the case assured Mr Swamy they would take him to meet Darshan and suggested that he apologise for his social media comments against the actor’s girlfriend. 

Darshan along with his co-star and girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 11 others, is in police custody. Ms Gowda allegedly prompted Darshan to punish Renuka Swamy for derogatory remarks allegedly made on her social media posts.

Ravi transported Renuka Swamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru, a journey of approximately 200 kilometres. Upon reaching Bengaluru, Ravi went into hiding but later contacted the taxi association in Chitradurga, who advised him to surrender to the police.

Ravi’s surrender on Thursday night to the Deputy Superintendent of Police’s office in Chitradurga has given a new direction to the investigation. According to the police, Raghu alias Raghavendra, who managed a fan club for Darshan in Chitradurga, arranged the taxi that Ravi drove. Raghu, along with others, had organised the kidnapping of Renuka Swamy on June 8, leading to the sequence of events.

Details from the investigation reveal that Darshan and his aides took Swamy to a shed in Bengaluru’s Kamakshipalya. There, Darshan allegedly thrashed Swamy with a belt, and his aides beat him with sticks until he lost consciousness. The assault resulted in multiple fractures and severe injuries. Renuka Swamy’s body, later found by a food delivery rider, was being nibbled by dogs.

The autopsy report confirmed the brutal nature of the murder, citing shock and haemorrhage as the cause of death. The report identified 15 wounds on Swamy’s body, with injuries to the head, abdomen, chest, and other parts. His head had also rammed into a mini-truck parked at the shed, adding to the fatal injuries. The police seized the truck and other instruments used in the torture, including wooden logs, a leather belt, and a rope.

Darshan allegedly planted three men to take the blame for the murder, offering them Rs 5 lakh each. 

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has refuted allegations of preferential treatment being given to Darshan during his detention at the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station. Mr Parameshwara said that Darshan is receiving the same treatment as any other accused, dispelling rumors of special facilities such as being served ‘Biryani’.

“It is not possible for police to give Biryani and royal treatment to the accused. It is not done and it should not be done,” Mr Parameshwara said. 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also denied any undue influence over the investigation. Reports suggesting that a state minister was attempting to protect Darshan were strongly denied by Mr Shivakumar, who said no political pressure was being applied.

“There is no pressure from anyone…..neither our Home Minister or anyone else is involved in it, we are not recommending anything, we don’t know anything,” Mr Shivakumar said.

The case has sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests across Karnataka. In Kalaburagi, the Jangam Samaj organised a massive demonstration demanding severe punishment for Darshan and his associates. Protesters marched from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle to the District Deputy Commissioner’s Office, where they burned Darshan’s portrait to condemn the murder.

BJP leader CP Yogeshwar claimed that Mr Shivakumar and his brother, former MP DK Suresh, had plans to field Darshan as a Congress candidate in the upcoming Channapatna Assembly by-election. This by-election is pending following the election of JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to the Lok Sabha.