Darshan's Co-Accused Moved To Tumakuru Jail Amid Security Concerns

Four key witnesses in the 33-year-old Renuka Swamy murder case have been shifted to Tumakuru district prison for their own safety, after they testified against actor Darshan and other accused individuals. The police made a request to the XXV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court to transfer them due to concerns that they may face threats from Darshan and his associates at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

The four accused - V Karthik alias Kappe (27) and R Keshavmurthy (27) of Girinagar; L Nikhil Nayak (21) of BG Road; and Ravi Shankar alias Ravi (32) of Chitradurga - were shifted to Tumakuru jail under tight security. Ravishankar played a crucial role in the murder, driving the car in which Renuka Swamy was abducted and brought to Bengaluru, where he was allegedly tortured and killed.

The other three accused- Karthik, Nikhil Nayak, and Keshavamurthy - were allegedly recruited by Pavan, a close associate of Darshan and accused number 3 in the case, after the murder. They helped dispose of Renuka Swamy's body and surrendered to Kamakshipalya Police the next day, falsely claiming responsibility for the crime. The trio were paid Rs 5 lakh each and promised more for their families, but later broke under interrogation and revealed Darshan's involvement in the crime. Their confessions led the police to crack the case. The four suspects reportedly mentioned actor Darshan's name during intensive interrogation.

Given this revelation, the police are not ruling out the possibility of an attack on them while in jail. But to prevent any harm to them in prison, the police requested their transfer to Tumakuru prison.

Meanwhile, Darshan's wife Vijayalakshmi and son visited him in prison on Monday, accompanied by his advocates and friend Vinod Prabhakar. Fans also gathered outside the prison, refusing to leave.