On 13 December, the Karnataka High Court granted regular bail to actor Darshan, Pavitra Gowda and other accused.
Published Jan 07, 2025 | 3:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 07, 2025 | 3:11 PM
Kannada actor Darshan
The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court to file a petition against the bail granted to actor Darshan Thugodeepa, Pavitra Gowda and other co-accused by the Karnataka High Court in the Renukaswamy murder case.
According to the Bar and Bench, the plea was filed before the top court on Monday, 6 January through Krishna & Nishani Law Chambers.
Actor Darshan, popularly known as ‘Challenging Star’, his friend Pavithra Gowda, and his close associates were arrested on 12 June for the murder of the 33-year-old fan on 8 June.
According to police sources, Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, had allegedly sent some obscene messages to Gowda on social media, which infuriated the 47-year-old actor, according to police sources.
On 30 October, the high court granted Darshan interim bail of six weeks under medical grounds, eventually on 13 December, the court granted regular bail to Darshan and other accused.
The Bengaluru police filed a chargesheet against 17 accused including Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case on 4 September.
The chargesheet was 3,991 pages long and included statements from 231 witnesses. Filing the chargesheet, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said, “A total of 231 witnesses including technical and scientific witnesses are mentioned in the report. This is a 3,991-page chargesheet and probed in all the angles.”
According to police sources who spoke to South First earlier, Pavithra was the “major cause” of Renukaswamy’s murder. They claimed that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.
Police have seized the slipper, clothes, materials and other documents connected to Darshan, from Pavithra’s house.
A resident of the district headquarters town of Chitradurga, Renukaswamy worked with a pharmacy company. According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
The police said Darshan had contacted several individuals soon after the alleged killing. Another accused has confessed that the victim was administered an electric shock.
Sources said that Darshan admitted to obtaining ₹40 lakh from his friend to escape adverse legal actions and to cover up conspiracy and destroy evidence.
Renukaswamy allegedly commented on the social media account of Pavithra Gowda, accusing her of creating a rift between the actor and his wife. He also allegedly used “indecent language” and posted offensive messages, according to police sources.
“It was Pavithra who instigated Darshan to punish Renukaswamy. Accordingly, the plan was hatched,” the police said.
“Darshan engaged the Chitradurga unit of Darshan Fan Club Convenor Raghavendra alias Raghu, who obtained all information about Renukaswamy.”
Renukaswamy’s wife Sahana said Raghavendra picked up her husband on a Friday night from near their house. The victim was abducted and taken to a shed in the Kamakshipalya area in Bengaluru.
“Darshan beat up Renukaswamy with a belt. After he fell unconscious, his accomplices thrashed him with sticks. Further, they threw him against a wall, which proved fatal,” according to sources who added that there were multiple fractures in his body.
After he died, his body was dumped in a stormwater drain. A food delivery boy who noticed dogs eating a human body alerted the police.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
