The Karnataka government requested the High Court to cancel actor Darshan Thogudeepa’s interim bail, arguing he misused it by not undergoing surgery. Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar presented evidence of Darshan’s involvement in a conspiracy related to the murder of auto driver Renukaswamy. The court scheduled further hearings on December 9.
Karnataka: The Karnataka government on Friday urged the Karnataka High Court to cancel the interim medical bail granted to actor Darshan Thogudeepa, the prime accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. The state argued that Darshan, who was given bail five weeks ago to undergo surgery, has yet to proceed with the procedure, raising concerns about misuse of the court’s leniency.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prasanna Kumar argued before Justice S. Viswajith Shetty that Darshan had failed to provide updates on the surgery and was allegedly using the court’s sympathy to evade justice.
“For five weeks, they are not doing anything. My submission is that the interim bail should be cancelled. And ask him (Darshan) to surrender and then consider his regular bail application. There is misuse of the sympathy shown by this Court,”
Kumar asserted.
The SPP presented call records and evidence suggesting Darshan’s involvement in a conspiracy to abduct and harm 33-year-old auto driver Renukaswamy. The deceased’s body was discovered on June 9, with injuries allegedly inflicted on Darshan’s instructions. Kumar claimed that Darshan had orchestrated the kidnapping after Renukaswamy made derogatory comments about his partner, Pavithra Gowda, on social media.
“On June 6, there are calls between accused persons. On June 8, accused number four, six, and seven followed the deceased. They accosted the deceased near a petrol pump and there accused number 8 also joined them. All of them then forced Renukaswamy to get inside a vehicle. They told him that accused number one and two (Darshan and Gowda) wanted to see him and they will let him go after that,”
Kumar explained.
The chargesheet also detailed how Gowda allegedly lured the victim by providing her manager’s phone number under the pretense of it being her own. Kumar argued that the chain of events and multiple eye-witness testimonies established the offence of kidnapping.
Darshan’s counsel, Senior Advocate C.V. Nagesh, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the evidence presented was fabricated. Similarly, Gowda’s lawyer claimed she was uninvolved in any conspiracy or criminal activity.
Justice Shetty questioned the government’s demand for bail cancellation midway through arguments on Darshan’s regular bail plea.
“You could have filed an application to cancel the bail. Now that arguments have commenced (on the regular bail plea), how can you say that surrender first and then hear the bail application?”
The court directed Kumar to continue his arguments and scheduled the next hearing for December 9.
Timeline of the Case
- June 9: Renukaswamy’s body is discovered.
- June 11: Darshan is arrested and lodged in Ballari Prison.
- October 14: Sessions court rejects Darshan’s bail plea.
- October 30: High Court grants six weeks of medical bail for surgery.
This high-profile case underscores the importance of judicial integrity, as the court weighs serious allegations against claims of fabricated evidence. Further developments on December 9 will shape the trajectory of this contentious legal battle.
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