The Karnataka High Court allowed Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa and Pavithra Gowda to be released on bail. They are accused of being involved in the murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old auto driver. The court also granted bail to five other people connected to the case. The judge, Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty, had earlier decided to reserve his decision about their bail on December 9. The case began when Renukaswamy's body was found on June 9, 2023. The investigation has led to serious accusations against Darshan and his associates.

Reason behind the murder

The murder of Renukaswamy is thought to be connected to an online argument. Renukaswamy allegedly sent rude messages to actress Pavithra Gowda, which upset actor Darshan. This fight started because Renukaswamy believed that Gowda was messing with Darshan's marriage. Renukaswamy, who was a big fan of Darshan, felt that Gowda was causing problems in Darshan's relationship with his wife. Because of this, he sent hurtful and offensive messages to Gowda on social media.

The dispute became the primary reason for Renukaswamy's brutal murder. Darshan allegedly ordered his fans to accost and kidnap Renukaswamy, leading to the violent events that ultimately resulted in Renukaswamy’s death.

Plotting of Renukaswamy’s murder

The police say that Darshan's fan, Raghavendra, tricked Renukaswamy into going to a shed by telling him that he would meet the actor there. But instead, the shed was a place where Renukaswamy was badly tortured before he died. The authorities claim that Renukaswamy was badly hurt, including being shocked with electricity, which caused several serious injuries to his body.

The autopsy report showed that Renukaswamy died because of severe bleeding and shock caused by many serious injuries. The investigation found that he was kicked and hurt badly, including an injury to his testicle. Evidence and witness statements indicated that he was tortured before he was killed. Digital evidence connected Darshan and his group to the place where the crime happened.

Who was Renukaswamy?

Renukaswamy was a young man from Chitradurga, Karnataka, who worked in a pharmacy. He was the only son in his family and had recently married in 2023. When he was killed, his wife was expecting their first child. His death was especially hard for his family because he was the only one earning money to support them.

Reports suggest that the reason Renukaswamy sent offensive messages was that he believed Darshan's relationship with Gowda was disrupting his idol's married life. His messages became the trigger for the deadly response by Darshan’s associates.

Alleged payment to kill Renukaswamy

Reports suggest that Darshan might have paid around ₹30 lakh to the people who planned and carried out Renukaswamy’s murder. Some sources claim the amount could have been as high as ₹50 lakh, given to four people, including Raghavendra, who was accused of arranging the attack. The money was allegedly used to dispose of Renukaswamy’s body and destroy evidence.

The police are still investigating the case by examining all the evidence they have. Darshan and the others accused are now waiting for the next steps in the legal process.

Special Public Prosecutor P. Prasanna Kumar strongly opposed the bail for Darshan and Pavithra Gowda. He argued that the crime was very serious and should be treated as murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, not a lesser charge like culpable homicide. Kumar also pointed out that Renukaswamy had suffered 39 injuries, including fractures, during the attack, showing how brutal the crime was.

On the other hand, the defence lawyers, Senior Counsel CV Nagesh and Aruna Shyam, argued that the police had not provided strong evidence. They said there were delays in collecting important information, such as witness statements, the post-mortem report, and the inquest. They claimed that the prosecution’s case had many mistakes and lacked clear proof against Darshan and the other accused.