Kannada Actor Darshan Thoogudeepa Taken To VIMS Hospital From Bellary Jail For Back Pain Examination

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently in judicial custody at Bellary Jail, was shifted to the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Bellary for a medical examination. The actor reportedly complained of severe back pain, prompting authorities to arrange an MRI scan to assess his condition.

Darshan was taken to the hospital under tight security, where doctors conducted the MRI scan to identify the cause of his discomfort. The actor had been experiencing back pain for a while, and jail authorities deemed it necessary for him to receive proper medical attention. After checkup, Darshan was brought back to jail.

Kannada actor #Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently in judicial custody at #BellaryJail, was shifted to the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (#VIMS) in Bellary for a medical examination. The actor reportedly complained of severe back pain, prompting authorities to… pic.twitter.com/qf7cmHRSFp

— Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) October 22, 2024

In a hearing on Tuesday, actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's lawyer claimed that doctors have recommended surgery for his back pain, prompting the Karnataka High Court to direct the prosecution to submit a medical report on the actor's condition. The court postponed the hearing on Darshan's bail plea in the Renukaswamy murder case to October 28.

Senior Advocate C.V. Nagesh, representing the actor, informed the court that doctors from the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) had advised Darshan to undergo surgery for his persistent back pain. Nagesh requested the court to grant bail on medical grounds, allowing the actor to undergo the procedure as recommended by the medical team.

Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty, presiding over the bail plea, directed Special Public Prosecutor P. Prasanna Kumar to provide a detailed medical report on Darshan's health status by October 28.

Darshan had previously moved the High Court after his bail plea was denied by the trial court on October 14.

**Why Was Bail Denied?**
The trial court had rejected Darshan's bail plea, stating that there was strong prima facie evidence linking him to the alleged murder. The court expressed concerns that if released, Darshan might tamper with witnesses or influence the case. The prosecution had alleged that Darshan played a key role in the crime and even paid money to destroy evidence related to the murder of Renukaswamy on June 8, with some of the money reportedly recovered from co-accused individuals.

Regarding arguments that hundreds of people depend on Darshan's films for their livelihood, the trial court ruled that granting bail based on his status would undermine the principle of equality before the law. It stated that no special treatment should be afforded to the actor due to his high status.