Today, On 14th Aug, Actor Darshan and Pavithra Gowda were arrested after the Supreme Court cancelled their bail in a high-profile murder case. The court emphasized, “Popularity Not a Shield,” underlining that fame does not exempt anyone from legal accountability.
Actor Pavitra Gowda arrested shortly after the Supreme Court revoked the bail previously granted to her and actor Darshan, and others involved in the Renukaswamy murder case.
Darshan was taken into custody at his residence in Hosakerehalli, using a back entrance for the arrest.
Gowda is identified as the primary accused (A1) in the case, while Darshan is A2.
A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan set-aside the Karnataka High Court’s decision, citing “serious infirmities” and instructed authorities to detain the accused immediately. The court stressed the need for an expedited trial.
The bench remarked,
“No legal reason to grant bail,”
Noting that Darshan’s liberty could “derail the administration of justice.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday, Darshan was arrested right away. The state had raised objections to the interim bail granted to him in connection with the murder charge.
Here are the top quotes from the Supreme Court.
“Popularity cannot be a shield for impunity. As this court held, influence, resources and social status cannot form a basis for granting bail where there is a genuine risk of prejudice to the investigation or trial.”
“In the present case, by treating Darshan’s stature as a mitigating factor, the high court committed a manifest perversity in the exercise of its discretion, thereby warranting cancellation of bail.”
“As demonstrated earlier, Darshan is not a common undertrial. He enjoys celebrity status, mass following, political clout, and financial muscle. His conduct inside the jail, including recorded instances of VIP treatment, violations of jail rules, and registered FIRs [first information reports] for misuse of facilities reflect his capacity to defy the system even while in custody.”
“If a person can subvert the prison system, the risk of interference with evidence, threatening influencing witnesses, and tampering with the course of justice is both real and imminent.”
“Moreover, Darshan’s immediate return to social events, sharing a stage with prosecution witnesses, and continued influence over police witnesses, despite being on bail, establish that his liberty is a threat to the integrity of the proceedings.”
“Notably, celebrities serve as social role models, so accountability is greater, not lesser. They, by virtue of their fame and public presence, wield substantial influence on public behaviour and social values.”
“Granting leniency to such persons despite grave charges of conspiracy and murder sends a wrong message to society and undermines public confidence in the justice system.”
“Accordingly, Darshan’s antecedents, influence, jail misconduct, and the seriousness of the charges against him make him unfit for bail, and the granting bail to him is based on non-application of mind, perverse, and legally unsustainable.”
“In a democracy governed by the rule of law, no individual is exempt from legal accountability by virtue of status or social capital.”
“Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law… All persons, regardless of popularity, power, or privilege, are equally subject to the law.”
Earlier, The Supreme Courtre served its decision in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case, strongly criticizing the Karnataka High Court for granting bail to Kannada actor Darshan and other accused.
A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai questioned whether judicial discretion was properly exercised, asking, “We are sorry to say, but does the High Court dictate the same kind of orders in all bail applications?”
The Supreme Court termed it a “perverse exercise of discretion,” highlighting scrutiny on whether the High Court had “applied its mind judiciously” in allowing bail in such a serious case.
Darshan Thoogudeepa, along with 13 others, is currently imprisoned, facing charges related to the murder of Renukaswamy. He was allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and killed by the actor’s associates after sending inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda, a friend of Darshan.
Renukaswamy’s remains were discovered in a stormwater drain on June 9.
In August of the previous year, there was significant controversy when images surfaced showing Darshan and other accused relaxing and smoking in lawn chairs within a jail garden. Following this, the actor was relocated to a different facility.
The body of 33-year-old auto-driver Renukaswamy was discovered on June 9, with allegations suggesting he died from injuries inflicted during an attack orchestrated on Darshan’s orders.
It is claimed that Darshan incited his fans to confront and kidnap Renukaswamy for making derogatory remarks about Pavithra Gowda on social media. Darshan was arrested on June 11 of this year.
Also Read: [Renukaswamy Murder Case] Actor Darshan Remanded to Judicial Custody Until July 4
On October 30, the High Court granted him interim bail for six weeks on medical grounds, and later, on December 13, it granted regular bail to Darshan, Pavithra, and the other five accused.
Single-judge Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty noted that the prosecution had failed to provide valid grounds for the arrest of the accused. He referenced a Supreme Court judgment in the case of journalist and editor Prabir Purkayastha, which clarified that grounds for arrest must be distinct from reasons for arrest, ensuring that all arrested individuals receive specific grounds related to their cases to allow for a fair defense and bail application.
In this instance, the High Court observed that the prosecution had delayed serving the grounds for arrest and that these grounds were identical for all accused rather than specific. Following this, the State appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge the bail order.
The plea was filed with the top court on January 6 through Krishna & Nishani Law Chambers.
Darshan apprehended on June 11 for his alleged involvement in the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, had reportedly sent inappropriate messages to Darshan’s co-star and friend, Pavithra Gowda, who also arrested in connection with the case.
The messages allegedly infuriated the actor, leading him to enlist a member of his fan club to carry out the murder, according to sources.
Sources further revealed that Raghavendra, a member of Darshan’s fan club, enticed Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar under the guise of arranging a meeting with the actor. It was there that Renukaswamy allegedly tortured and killed.
Several of the accused, while in police custody, have confessed that Darshan paid Rs 30 lakh to have Renukaswamy killed, dispose of the body, and destroy evidence. They also reportedly compensated to surrender and take the blame for the murder, according to the investigation report.
The autopsy revealed that Renukaswamy suffered a brutal attack with wooden clubs, leading to his death “due to shock and haemorrhage resulting from multiple blunt injuries.” The post-mortem also noted that Renukaswamy was kicked, causing a ruptured testicle.
Additionally, the autopsy indicated that Renukaswamy was subjected to electric shocks before his death. Details of this alleged torture emerged during the interrogation of an accomplice, according to sources.
Seventeen individuals stand accused in this murder case.
Police seized slippers, clothing, materials, and various documents related to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who also implicated in the murder, from Pavithra’s residence. It is alleged that Dhanaraj, also known as Raja, a member of Darshan’s group and the ninth accused in the case, administered electric shocks to Renukaswamy. The police recovered an ‘Electric Shock Torch’ from Dhanaraj’s home.
Case Title: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA V SRI DARSHAN ETC. SLP(Crl) No. 516-522/2025
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