Man who drove car with Renukaswamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru surrenders to cops

CHITRADURGA: In a fresh development into the murder of Renukaswamy, allegedly by ‘Challenging Star’ Darshan Thoogudeepa and his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, the eighth accused, who drove the car carrying Renukaswamy from Chitradurga to the Pattanagere shed in Bengaluru, surrendered at the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police Dinakar on Thursday night.

Ravi was advised by the taxi drivers’ association to surrender. They also accompanied him.

The accused Ravi was on Friday taken for medical tests and handed over to the custody of the Kamakshipalya police who brought him to Bengaluru. Prior to his surrender, Ravi had contacted the taxi drivers’ association president and informed him what had transpired and that he had been trapped in the case. The association leaders then advised him to surrender and brought him to the Deputy SP’s office.

Renukaswamy was brought in an autorickshaw near a petrol bunk from where he got into Ravi’s cab. One of the kidnappers can be seen approaching the car before it left for Bengaluru.

According to Ravi’s statement to the taxi drivers’ association, Renukaswamy was brought in an autorickshaw near Kunchiganal from where he boarded the car. The abductors had reportedly told Renukaswamy that they were taking him to meet Darshan and that he had boarded the car happily. Ravi then dropped off the occupants near the shed in Pattanagere, but went into hiding after he came to know about the murder, it is said.

The victim Renukaswamy; (right) Two other accused, Jagga (top) and Anu, who are absconding.

The police also conducted a spot inspection on Thursday night near Challakere Gate, from where Renukaswamy was abducted and at Kunchiganalu village where he was put into the SUV from an autorickshaw on June 8. Another accused, Raghu alias Raghavendra, was also present.

The shed in Pattanagere where Renukaswamy was beaten to death.

Apart from Raghu, who is the president of the Darshan fans’ association, Jagadish, Anu, Ravi and Raju, all from Chitradurga, were also allegedly involved in the kidnap of Renukaswamy. They first took Renukaswamy in an autorickshaw and got him to board Ravi’s Toyota Etios car which they had hired, police sources said. While Raghu has been arrested, the other four are absconding along with the car owner Jaggu alias Virat Jaggu.