Prosecution Accuses Actor Darshan and Co-defendants of Delaying Renukaswamy Murder Trial Despite Supreme Court Orders

Actor Darshan and Pavitra Gowda are among seven accused in Renukaswamy murder case.

The prosecution in the Renukaswamy murder case, where Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his associate Pavitra Gowda stand as primary defendants, has alleged that the defense is intentionally prolonging the trial despite explicit instructions from the Supreme Court to expedite proceedings.

In a memo presented to the trial court, Special Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar highlighted that the Supreme Court, through its August 14 order, had revoked bail for seven accused individuals including Darshan and Pavitra Gowda, and mandated swift completion of the trial. All seven defendants were subsequently detained on the same day.

However, the prosecution contends that rather than facilitating court proceedings, the accused have been submitting numerous discharge petitions and procedural applications to impede the formulation of charges. The prosecution noted that despite approximately 20 hearings since mid-August, arguments regarding charge framing have remained stagnant.

The memo also indicated that Accused No 2, actor Darshan, submitted an application under the Karnataka Prisoners Act requesting special accommodations in jail. Prison authorities provided documentation confirming that Darshan was already receiving all entitlements according to the Karnataka Prison Manual, 2021. Nevertheless, Darshan filed additional petitions, including requests for court inspection of the prison and for contempt proceedings against prison officials.

Subsequently, the court instructed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to inspect the central prison. The DLSA's report dated October 17 verified that all facilities were being provided and characterized Darshan's allegations as unfounded.

The prosecution maintained that these actions were solely intended to delay the trial and circumvent compliance with the Supreme Court's directive to prioritize proceedings.

The case involves the murder of Renukaswamy, a fan who was allegedly abducted, assaulted, and killed in June 2024. Actor Darshan, Pavitra Gowda, and several others face serious charges related to this crime.