A court in Bengaluru has extended the judicial custody of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his associate Pavithra Gowda, and several other individuals involved in the Renukaswamy murder case. The extension of their custody will last until September 9, following a hearing on Wednesday. The proceedings were conducted via video conferencing with the accused appearing from Bengaluru and Tumakuru prisons, where they are currently detained.
Judicial Custody Extended After Police Remand Request
The extension was granted based on a remand request submitted by the police. The 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had earlier allowed Darshan to be moved from Parappana Agrahara Central Jail to Ballari Prison. This decision followed public outrage over a leaked photograph of the actor relaxing on the prison lawns with three other individuals, including a notorious rowdy-sheeter. The photo, showing Darshan holding a cigarette and a coffee mug, went viral and caused widespread controversy.
Accused to Be Transferred to Different Prisons
In addition to Darshan’s transfer, the court also approved the relocation of other co-accused to different prisons across Karnataka. Pawan, Raghavendra, and Nandish will be sent to Mysuru Jail, while Jagadish and Lakshmana are set to be moved to Shivamogga Jail. Dhanraj will be relocated to Dharwad Jail, Vinay to Vijayapura Jail, Nagaraj to Kalaburagi/Gulbarga Jail, and Pradosh to Belagavi Jail. Meanwhile, Pavithra Gowda, Anukumar, and Deepak will stay in Parappana Agrahara Jail, and four other accused had previously been shifted to Tumakuru Prison.
Prison Officials Suspended Amid “Special Treatment” Allegations
Nine prison officials, including the Chief Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara Jail, were suspended following an initial investigation into alleged “special treatment” provided to Darshan. In addition, three FIRs were lodged, including one against Darshan, under sections of the Prisons Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Details of the Renukaswamy Murder Case
The murder case centres on the death of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, whose body was found near a stormwater drain in Sumanahalli, Bengaluru, on June 9. According to investigators, Renukaswamy had allegedly sent inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda, which led to Darshan’s involvement in his murder. Raghavendra, a member of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, is accused of luring Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar under the guise of arranging a meeting with the actor, where he was allegedly tortured and killed.
The post-mortem report indicated that Renukaswamy died from multiple blunt injuries, resulting in shock and haemorrhage. Police claim that Pavithra played a significant role in instigating the other accused and conspiring to carry out the murder.
