Kannada actor Darshan arrested hours after Supreme Court cancels bail in Renukaswamy murder case
PTC Web Desk: Kannada actor and producer Darshan was arrested on Thursday, just hours after the Supreme Court cancelled his bail in a fan’s murder case. The arrest came soon after the police also took into custody actress Pavithra Gowda, named as the prime accused.
The case involves the abduction and killing of 33-year-old Renukaswamy in 2024. The police say the victim, a fan of Darshan, had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, who is known to be a close friend of the actor. He reportedly blamed her for problems in Darshan’s marriage at the time.
According to investigators, a member of Darshan’s fan club lured Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar, Bengaluru, under the pretext of meeting the star. He was allegedly tortured before being killed. His body was later found near a drain in Sumanahalli.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court not only cancelled Darshan’s bail but also ordered that the trial be fast-tracked. It criticised the Karnataka High Court for granting bail in December 2024 without considering the seriousness of the charges.
“The order shows a mechanical use of discretion with key facts omitted,” said the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, adding that no one, regardless of fame or influence, is above the law.
Justice Pardiwala also warned the state against offering special treatment to the accused in jail, saying that any such privilege would lead to immediate action against prison authorities.
Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and several others face charges of abduction and murder. The police allege Renukaswamy had been harassing Pavithra Gowda with lewd texts and images, which escalated the events leading to his death. Darshan was first arrested on June 11, 2024, two days after the victim’s body was discovered, and was later named as the second accused in the police chargesheet filed in September 2024.
- With inputs from agencies
