Bengaluru court extends judicial custody of Kannada actor Darshan, girlfriend Pavithra Gowda till September 12 | Bengaluru News – Times of India

BENGALURU: A Bengaluru court has extended the judicial custody of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others until September 12.
The group faces charges in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy. The 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court conducted the proceedings via video conferencing since the accused are lodged in various prisons across the state.
Darshan, currently held in Ballari prison was shifted there from Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.
The transfer followed court permission after a photograph emerged of him socializing with others on the prison lawn, causing public outrage.
The photograph depicted Darshan in a relaxed state, holding a cigarette and coffee mug. Additionally, a video surfaced showing him on a video call from prison.
Nine prison officials, including the Chief Superintendent of the Parappana Agrahara jail, were suspended for their “lapses” relating to the alleged special treatment given to Darshan. Three FIRs have been registered, including one against Darshan, under sections of the Prisons Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A preliminary charge sheet, totaling 3,991 pages, was submitted by the police last week. The court had previously sanctioned the transfer of other co-accused to different prisons across the state. Co-accused Pawan, Raghavendra, and Nandish are now in Mysuru Jail, while Jagadish and Lakshmana are in Shivamogga Jail. Dhanraj, Vinay, Nagaraj, and Pradosh are held in Dharwad, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi/Gulbarga, and Belagavi jails, respectively.
Three accused—Pavithra Gowda, Anukumar, and Deepak—remain at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, while four others—Ravi, Karthik, Nikhil, and Keshavamurthy—were earlier moved to Tumakuru prison and continue to be held there.
According to police sources, Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan of Darshan, had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra, which led to Darshan’s rage and subsequent involvement in the murder. Renukaswamy’s body was discovered near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli on June 9.
Police detailed that Raghavendra, a member of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, lured Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar under the pretense that Darshan wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that Renukaswamy was purportedly tortured and murdered. The post-mortem report indicated that Renukaswamy died from shock and hemorrhage caused by multiple blunt injuries.
Police sources identified Pavithra as the primary instigator in Renukaswamy’s murder. “Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the ‘major cause’ for Renukaswamy’s murder. It has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.”
The judicial proceedings and investigations continue to unfold as new details emerge. The extension of judicial custody indicates ongoing deliberations and inquiries into the case, emphasizing the gravity of the accusations faced by Darshan and his co-accused.