Bengaluru: Actor Darshan's Judicial Custody Extended Till Sep 12

A court in Bengaluru has extended the judicial custody of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his friend Pavithra Gowda until September 12. They, along with 15 others, are accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. The 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court conducted the hearing via video conferencing from various prisons across the state.

Darshan, currently held in Ballari prison, was transferred from Parappana Agrahara Central Jail after a viral photo showed him with three others, including a rowdy-sheeter. The image sparked public outrage as it depicted Darshan relaxed, holding a cigarette and coffee mug. A video call recording of him from prison also surfaced on social media.

Judicial Custody Extension

The police submitted a preliminary chargesheet of 3,991 pages to the court last week. Darshan has filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking to prevent media outlets from broadcasting or publishing details from this chargesheet. The actor's judicial custody ended today, prompting the court to extend it further.

Other co-accused have been relocated to different prisons across Karnataka. Pawan, Raghavendra, and Nandish are in Mysuru Jail Jagadish and Lakmana are in Shivogga Jail; Dhanraj is in Dharwad Jail; Vinay is in Vijayapura Jail; Nagaraj in Kalaburagi/Gulbarga Jail; and Pradosh is in Belagavi Jail.

Accusations and Evidence

Renukaswamy's body was discovered near a stormwater drain by an apartment complex in Sumanahalli on June 9 Police sources indicate that Renukaswamy had sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, which allegedly enraged Darshan and led to the. Raghavendra, part of Darshan's fan club, lured Renukaswamy to a shed under false pretenses where he was tortured and killed.

The post-mortem report revealed that Renukaswamy died due to shock and haemorrhage caused by multiple blunt. Police claim that Pavithra Gowda played a significant role in instigating the crime and conspiring with other accused individuals.

Prison Officials Suspended

Nine prison officials, including the Chief Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara jail, were suspended an investigation into alleged "special treatment" given to Darshan. Three FIRs were registered against Darshan under sections of the Prisons Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Three other accused-Pavithra Gowda, Anukumar, and Deepak-remain at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. Four more-Ravi, Karthik, Nikhil, and Keshavamurthy-were moved earlier to Tumakuru prison where they continue to be held.

This case continues to unfold as authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Renukaswamy's death. The involvement of prominent figures like Darshan Thoogudeepa has kept public interest high as new developments emerge.