Published Oct 14, 2024 | 6:33 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 14, 2024 | 6:33 PM
Actor Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda
The bail pleas of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his friend Pavithra Gowda were rejected by the Special Court of Public Representatives on Monday, 14 October.
The duo, along with 15 others were arrested for allegedly murdering the actor’s fan, Renukaswamy. He was murdered allegedly for sending obscene messages to Pavithra.
Actor Darshan was in the headlines a while back after viral photos showed the actor smoking a cigarette while lodged in jail. On the heels of it, a video emerged showing Darshan speaking in a video call.
Even though the authenticity of the video or the photo could not be confirmed, it created a controversy. The Opposition BJP and the public criticised the Congress government in Karnataka for giving VIP treatment to murderers and rowdy sheeters in prison.
Taking cognisance of the case, CM Siddaramaiah had asked the actor and rowdy sheeters seen in the video with him to be moved to different jails.
At present, Darshan is being held in the Ballari Central Prison. Pavithra Gowda – the first accused in the Renukaswamy murder case – is at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara.
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 had 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” for 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 Neena)
