His legal team filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance, citing health concerns, but the court dismissed the request and mandated the actor’s presence.
Published Apr 10, 2025 | 6:45 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 10, 2025 | 6:45 PM
Darshan with actor Chikkana (behind, in a black T-shirt), at a Bengaluru mall.
Synopsis: Kannada actor Darshan is facing fresh criticism after missing a court hearing in the Renukaswamy murder case to attend a private film screening with a key witness. His lawyers had cited back pain to request an exemption, but the court rejected the plea and said his presence was mandatory.
Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has sparked a fresh controversy after skipping a court appearance and instead attending a private film screening alongside a key witness in the Renukaswamy murder case.
The 47-year-old actor, currently out on bail, was expected to appear before a Bengaluru court on 8 April in connection with the alleged murder of a 33-year-old fan.
His legal team filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance, citing health concerns, including back pain. However, the court dismissed the request, stating that “no excuses would be entertained” and that the actor’s presence was compulsory.
The remaining accused persons, including the actor’s friend Pavithra Gowda, attended the hearing.
Though he was absent from the court proceedings, later that evening Darshan was seen at a special screening of the Kannada film Vamana, starring his friend and actor Dhanveer Gowda, at a Bengaluru mall.
The screening, reportedly lasting three hours, was said to have been arranged specifically for him.
Videos and photos circulating on social media appear to show Darshan entering a shopping mall to watch the film.
Notably, he is seen accompanied by one of the key witnesses, actor Chikkanna, in the murder case. Under legal restrictions, he is not permitted to have contact with witnesses in the case.
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.
On 13 December 2024, the High Court granted regular bail to to the actor and several co-accused.
(Edited by Dese Gowda).
