The bail petitions of popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his friend Pavithra Gowda were rejected by a Bengaluru sessions court on Monday in connection with the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case. The case has captured significant attention, as Darshan, a beloved figure in the Kannada film industry, has been embroiled in this serious legal matter for several months.
The case revolves around the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, reportedly a fan of Darshan, whose body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Sumanahalli, Bengaluru, on June 9. Police sources indicate that the tragic events were allegedly set in motion when Renukaswamy sent inappropriate and obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, Darshan’s friend. These messages reportedly enraged the actor, leading to the chain of events that culminated in Renukaswamy’s murder.
According to police, Renukaswamy had been communicating with Pavithra since February, with their interaction turning more explicit in June when he allegedly sent indecent photos. Despite the inappropriate nature of the messages, instead of contacting the police, Pavithra and Darshan reportedly chose to take matters into their own hands.
Prosecutors argue that this decision led to Renukaswamy being abducted by a gang linked to the Akhila Karnataka Darshan Thoogudeepa Sena, a fan organization. It is claimed that Renukaswamy was taken to a shed in Pattanagere, where he was assaulted by the gang members before Darshan and Pavithra arrived. Upon their arrival, Renukaswamy was reportedly beaten again, which prosecutors allege ultimately resulted in his death.
Darshan, who has been in judicial custody since June 11, has been fighting to secure bail over the past few months. His lawyer, CV Nagesh, recently argued in court that the actor is being wrongly implicated in the case and claimed that Darshan was not even aware of the victim’s existence. However, the Special Public Prosecutor (SSP), Prasanna Kumar, strongly countered these arguments during an October 8 hearing. Kumar presented chat records between Pavithra Gowda and Renukaswamy, revealing details of their interactions leading up to the murder.
The chat records showed that Pavithra had been in communication with Renukaswamy for several months, and in June, she requested his phone number. Following the exchange of numbers, Renukaswamy sent indecent images to Pavithra, asking for a response. Prosecutors have suggested that Pavithra could have reported the incident to the authorities at this point, but instead, she and Darshan reportedly contacted the fan organization, escalating the situation.
While Darshan and Pavithra’s bail petitions were denied, the court had earlier granted bail to two other defendants in the case, Nikhil Naik and Karthik. Additionally, the High Court had approved bail for a third defendant, Keshava Murthy, on September 23.
The rejection of Darshan’s bail petition means that the actor will remain in custody as the investigation continues. The case has cast a significant shadow over Darshan’s career, with fans and the industry alike watching the developments closely.
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