Published Aug 14, 2025 | 11:40 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 14, 2025 | 11:40 AM
Kannada actor Darshan
Synopsis: The Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan and the other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. It was heard by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 14 August, cancelled the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan and the other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.
The Karnataka government had challenged the high court’s bail order dated 13 December 2024, granting bail to the actor who is allegedly involved in the killing of his 33-year-old ‘fan’ over sending obscene messages to actress Pavithra Gowda.
It was heard by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, who said they considered everything, the grant of bail as well as its cancellation. Advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the State of Karnataka, and Advocate Siddharth Dave appeared for Darshan.
The apex court noted that the order of the high court suffered from serious legal infirmities.
“The order fails to record any special or cogent reasons for granting bail under Sections 302 and 34 IPC. Instead, it reflects a mechanical exercise of discretion formed by significant omission of legally relevant facts. Moreover, the high court undertook an extensive examination of witness statements at the pre-trial stage, highlighting alleged contradictions and delays, issues that are inherently matters for the trial court to assess in cross-examination,” the court said.
“The trial court is alone the appropriate forum for evaluating the credibility and liability of the witnesses. Granting bail in such a serious case without adequately considering the nature and gravity of the offence, the accused’s role, and the tangible interference with the trial is among the most serious and unwarranted exercises of discretion.”
“The well-founded allegations of witness interpretation, coupled with compelling forensic and circumstantial evidence, further reinforce the cancellation of bail. Consequently, the liberty granted under the impugned order poses a real and imminent threat to the fair administration of justice and risks derailing the trial,” it added.
Justice Pardiwala noted that the justice delivery system at any level must ensure the rule of law.
“The day we come to know that the accused is provided five-star treatment, the first step would be to suspend the jail superintendent. If we are shown photographs of the accused smoking, drinking in jails, we will call you Mr Luthra. We have passed this judgment at your instance. If we get to see those photographs again, you will be summoned first,” he said.
On July 24, the bench had reserved judgement. It had questioned the state if it had any evidence to corroborate the statement of two eye-witnesses that Darshan was involved in the crime.
At the same time, serious concerns were raised by the bench in regards to the exercise of discretion by the High Court in granting bail to Darshan.
Darshan was arrested on 11 June 2024 in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga.
The victim’s body was found near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of Bengaluru, bearing multiple injury marks.
Darshan was reportedly angered after Renukaswamy sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda and had him abducted and killed in a parking shed.
The actor and several of his close associates were arrested after an attempt by Darshan to get others to take responsibility for the killing and surrender in his stead for a promise of money failed.
After spending nearly four and a half months in judicial custody, the Karnataka High Court granted him interim bail for six weeks to undergo spine surgery on 30 October 2024.
The court required him to surrender his passport and execute a personal bond of ₹2 lakh with two sureties for the same amount.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
