Karnataka High Court has granted bail to five men, allegedly Darshan fans, accused of sending online rape and death threats to actress Ramya. The court cited a completed investigation and the young age of the accused while setting strict conditions.
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KARNATAKA: The Karnataka High Court granted bail to five men accused of issuing online rape and death threats to former Member of Parliament and popular actress Divya Spandana, widely known as Ramya.
Details of the Bail Order
Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar approved the bail applications after observing that most of the alleged offences were bailable and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, given that the investigation was already completed. The Court also noted that the accused were young and that their phones, which served as crucial evidence, had already been seized.
The individuals granted bail are:
- Chinmay S Shetty (18)
- Obanna T (25)
- Gangadhar KM (19)
- Rajesh CY (23)
- Manjunath (22)
Additionally, the Court granted anticipatory bail to Vikas BA (28), who had feared arrest after his Instagram account was flagged during the investigation.
Background of the Case
The case arose after Ramya shared her opinion on social media regarding a Supreme Court observation in a petition filed by the State to cancel bail granted to actor Darshan, who is accused in the Chitradurga Renukaswamy murder case. Following her post, Ramya began receiving abusive and threatening messages from 43 anonymous social media accounts.
The Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police registered a criminal case and arrested several individuals involved in sending the threats. Some of the accused later approached the High Court seeking bail.
Arguments Presented
Defence Counsel:
- Highlighted that the alleged offences occurred online, reducing the risk of evidence tampering if the accused were released.
- Emphasized the youth of the accused and argued that they were unlikely to pose a threat to Ramya, given her status as a well-known public figure.
State:
- Contended that the case involved serious allegations.
- Warned that releasing the accused could result in threats to witnesses or the complainant.
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Court’s Observations
After evaluating both sides, the High Court granted bail and anticipatory bail, subject to certain conditions:
- Each accused must furnish a personal bond of ₹1 lakh.
- The accused are prohibited from threatening Ramya or any witnesses.
- They must cooperate with the investigation and attend all trial court proceedings.
Appearance:
For the petitioners/ accused: Advocates Satyanarayan Chalke, Girish R and Sharath S Gowda
For the State: Additional Special Public Prosecutor B Pushpalatha
For Ramya: Advocate Shesha Karthik Reddy
Case Title:
Pramodh K & others Vs State of Karnataka
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12940 OF 2025
Read Order: