Renukaswamy murder case: Darshan, other accused kept in separate cells; two more accused sent to jail

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and the other accused, who were re-arrested on Thursday in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case after the Supreme Court cancelled their bail, are being held in the admission barracks in separate cells of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The Supreme Court had warned of strict action if any special treatment is given to him after the previous episode.

During his earlier stint in the Bengaluru Central Prison last year, a photograph surfaced showing Darshan hobnobbing with rowdy-sheeters Wilson Garden Naga and Srinivas and allegedly getting preferential treatment. The leaked image left prison authorities red-faced and led to Darshan’s transfer to Ballari Prison.

Southeast division police headed by DCP Sarah Fathiema are investigating the cases that followed the leaked picture. A source told The Hindu that at they are preparing to file charge sheets in the cases.

Bengaluru city police followed up the development with surprise raids, uncovering multiple irregularities. Subsequently, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) moved the court and secured orders to transfer the rowdy sheeters to other prisons in the State. These individuals had been detained under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA), the harshest law in the Karnataka Police statutes.

Given the history of irregularities at the central prison, officials have now made extensive arrangements to securely house Darshan and his associates.

Two more remanded

Meanwhile, two more accused in the murder case were remanded in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Friday. The police produced Jagadeesh alias Jagga (accused number 6) and Anu Kumar alias Anu (accused number 7) before a judge at his residence in southeastern Bengaluru on Friday, after which they were escorted to the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

S. Girish, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), West, who is overseeing the developments, told The Hindu that both were arrested in Chitradurga.

“They have been remanded in judicial custody until August 23 and will be produced before the court again on that date,” Mr. Girish said.

The Supreme Court set aside a Karnataka High Court order granting bail to seven of the 17 accused in the murder of Renukaswamy, a Chitradurga resident. Renukaswamy’s body was found near a stormwater drain close to Sumanahalli in west Bengaluru on June 9, 2024. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda.

Police filed a charge sheet in September, after which Darshan and six others approached the Karnataka High Court and were granted bail on October 30, 2024. Bengaluru police later petitioned the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of their bail.

On Thursday, the apex court ruled in favour of Bengaluru police, leading to the re-arrest of all the accused. Pavithra was the first to be detained from her residence in RR Nagar, followed by other accused, including Pradosh, Lakshman, and Nagaraj.

Darshan was arrested from his wife’s apartment in Hosakerehalli, south Bengaluru, where he had gone to visit his wife and son.