Renukaswamy murder: Court adjourns bail application of actor Darshan till September 27

BENGALURU: The 57th Magistrate Court, Bengaluru, on Monday, adjourned the hearing for the bail petition of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa till September 27 and his friend and another accused Pavithra Gowda’s till September 25 in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Darshan filed a bail application on Saturday, September 21.The Sessions Court granted bail to two accused, Nikhil Naik and Karthik. Earlier today, the High Court granted bail to another accused, Keshava Murthy, in the case.

The three were alleged to be involved in Renukaswamy’s murder, but the investigation revealed they were not directly involved. Instead, they were charged with attempting to destroy evidence. Firstly, Kesavamurthy, was granted bail by the High Court.

Keshavamurthy is a resident of Heerannagudda in Girinagar, Kesavamurthy was doing small jobs to make ends meet. He is one of the ardent fans of Darshan and he was willing to go to jail for the actor’s sake. He became involved in the crime through Pavan, who worked at Darshan’s house.

Darshan’s associates advised Kesavamurthy to surrender to the police without revealing Darshan’s name, promised him monetary rewards for his work.  Accordingly, Keshavmurthy surrenedered before Kamakshipalya police and revealed the murder mystery. His one statement changed the entire dimension of the invstigation.

Earlier this month, Bengaluru police submitted a charge sheet in a secure box to the court against 17 accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, including star Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his friend Pavithra Gowda, Bengaluru Police said.

Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru B Dayananda, said that a 3,991-page charge sheet, which includes seven volumes and 10 files, has been submitted to the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

The police statement said that a strong charge sheet had been prepared after a thorough investigation of the case from all angles.

Earlier, actor Darshan was shifted to Bellary Jail after his purported photograph of hanging out with three others, including a rowdy-sheeter, in the lawns of Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Karnataka went viral.

Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda responded to the matter.

He said, “If this person is being given extra privileges, it is wrong. Officers who have facilitated such privileges should be held accountable, and action should be taken against them.”

The Karnataka government earlier suspended seven prison officials after purported picture of Darshan from the jail circulated online. In the image, the actor was seen holding a cup in his right hand and a cigarette in the other.

The case relates to Renukaswamy (33), a native of Chitradurga whose body was recovered in Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru on June 9. (ANI)