Supreme Court questions Karnataka High Court’s decision to grant bail to Kannada actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case. Bench says it’s “not convinced” with how the order was passed.
New Delhi: Today, on July 17, the Supreme Court of India has raised serious doubts over the Karnataka High Court’s decision to grant bail to popular Kannada actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case.
A bench comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan expressed strong reservations about how the High Court exercised its powers in granting bail.
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While hearing the plea filed by the Karnataka state government, which challenged the High Court’s bail order issued on December 13, 2024, the apex court clearly indicated its dissatisfaction.
The bench told senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing Darshan,
“To be very honest with you, we are not convinced with the manner in which the High Court has exercised discretion. Very honestly, we will say this.”
Justice Pardiwala further said during the hearing,
“We will hear you because your clients are on bail. But you must have seen the manner in which the High Court dictated the order.”
The case involves serious charges against Darshan and several others, including actress Pavithra Gowda. They have been accused of abducting and murdering a 33-year-old man named Renukaswamy, who was reportedly a fan of the actress.
Read Also: [Renukaswamy Murder Case] Actor Darshan Remanded to Judicial Custody Until July 4
According to police reports, the victim had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda on social media, which enraged the actor and his associates.
As per the police investigation, Renukaswamy was abducted and kept in illegal custody in a shed located in Bengaluru. He was allegedly tortured over a span of three days in June 2024.
The brutal nature of the crime has shocked the public, as the police claimed that after being tortured, his body was dumped in a drain from where it was later recovered.
The Supreme Court’s remarks have now brought the focus back to the legal process surrounding the case, especially the High Court’s reasoning for granting bail to the accused.
ALSO READ: [Renukaswamy Murder Case] Karnataka HC Grants Bail to Actor Darshan, Pavithra Gowda
The bench said,
“I wanted to show you something…I seem to have missed my marking…. We will hear you on Tuesday. You keep your submissions ready. We’ll hear you on why we should not interfere,”
While the matter is still being heard, the apex court’s sharp comments signal that it is not satisfied with the earlier judicial handling of the case.
The state government, through this appeal, has sought to reverse the bail orders and ensure that justice is served in what is being described as a gruesome and premeditated crime.
CASE TITLE:
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA vs SRI DARSHAN ETC. ETC.SLP(Crl) No. 516-522/2025
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