Darshan To Secure Bail On October 5 In Murder Case? Kannada Actor To Be Released Immediately?

A court in Bengaluru adjourned the hearing for Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's bail plea, related to the high-profile fan murder case, to October 5. Darshan, along with Pavithra Gowda, remains in custody after being implicated in the murder of Renukaswamy, a fan who was allegedly killed after sending obscene messages to Gowda.

Senior counsel C.V. Nagesh, representing Darshan, claimed that the evidence against his client had been fabricated by the police. He criticised the investigation, comparing it to a fictional narrative from "Arabian Nights," and argued that the case had been heavily influenced by a media trial. According to Nagesh, the injury marks on Renukaswamy's body were attributed to dog bites rather than an assault by Darshan.

The counsel further contended that the police had failed to follow proper procedures in collecting evidence, raising questions about the timing and validity of the seizures made at the crime scene. Nagesh submitted Supreme Court rulings to support his claim that the evidence recovery process had not adhered to the prescribed guidelines.

Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar, however, requested access to the documents presented by the defense, emphasizing that the police had recovered crucial evidence linking Darshan to the crime. This included clothes with alleged bloodstains and items such as a broken lathi, tree branch, and nylon rope, reportedly recovered from the scene.

The court had previously postponed the bail hearing on September 30, allowing the defense more time to prepare. Darshan, who admitted to assaulting Renukaswamy in response to the obscene messages, has maintained his innocence regarding the murder charge. He argues that while he attacked the victim, he was unaware of Renukaswamy's death until later.

The case has drawn significant public and media attention, with the 3,991-page charge sheet detailing the violent events that led to Renukaswamy's death. According to the police, Renukaswamy was abducted, held in a shed in Bengaluru, and brutally assaulted by Darshan and his associates. His body was later dumped in a drain at Sumanahalli.

Although several of Darshan's co-accused have been granted bail, the actor and his partner remain in custody as the court continues to deliberate on their involvement in the case.

Darshan May Face Extended Jail Time If Surety Process Is Not Completed Swiftly

According to reports, if a surety is not provided in time for bail, the release of the accused could face delays. Family members of the accused, who were released after 10 days, reportedly struggled to secure sureties, causing a nine-day delay in the official bail process. Once the surety process was completed, the Tumakuru jail officers received a copy of the jail order the night before the release. Therefore, securing a surety on time is crucial to expedite the bail process.

Additionally, if actor Darshan is granted bail in the future, he may not be released from prison immediately if there are delays in securing the surety. The newly released individuals were granted conditional bail, which required a payment of Rs 2 lakh each and surety from two people. On June 10, they had surrendered to authorities, admitting to killing Renukaswamy with the help of others.