HC reserves order on plea against actor's bail

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court on Monday reserved the decision on the regular bail plea of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, accused in the murder of his fan and auto driver Renukaswamy, and ordered that the interim bail granted to Darshan for medical reasons will remain in effect.

- HT Correspondent

Special public prosecutor (SPP) P Prasanna Kumar strongly opposed Darshan's bail, emphasising the brutality of the crime and the extensive evidence collected. Kumar argued that the case constituted "a clear violation under Section 302 of the IPC," categorising it as murder rather than culpable homicide. He highlighted the severity of the victim's injuries, which included "39 serious injuries," "17 fractured ribs," and wounds causing blood to ooze from the testicles.

Kumar presented a range of evidence, including forensic reports, witness statements, and digital data, placing Darshan and his co-accused at the crime scene. The prosecutor further alleged that Renukaswamy's death stemmed from an assault orchestrated by Darshan, who reportedly instructed his supporters to abduct and attack the victim over derogatory comments made about co-accused Pavithra Gowda on social media.