'He is Renukaswamy': Bengaluru student stripped, assaulted and filmed by 8 - accused inspired by Darshan case

Bengaluru youth assaulted

A 22-year-old man was kidnapped, stripped and violently beaten by a group of eight men in Bengaluru, who allegedly took inspiration from the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case linked to Kannada actor Darshan. The attackers filmed the assault, mocking the victim by comparing him to Renukaswamy, the man allegedly killed for sending obscene messages to Darshan’s partner, Pavithra Gowda, according to an NDTV report.

The incident occurred on June 30 in Soladevanahalli, Bengaluru, after the victim, Kushal, was lured under the pretext of resolving a dispute. As per HT, police said Kushal had sent obscene messages to his ex-girlfriend, who is now in a relationship with another man. Enraged, her current boyfriend and his friends allegedly orchestrated the attack.

"He is Renukaswamy and we are accused number one, two and three," one of the attackers is heard saying in the viral video, referencing the Darshan case. The footage shows the gang beating Kushal, stripping him and striking his private parts while laughing.

All eight accused have been arrested on charges of kidnapping and robbery, with police investigating if others were involved. The assault has drawn disturbing parallels to the Renukaswamy murder, where the victim was kidnapped, tortured and killed for allegedly messaging Gowda. Actor Darshan and 15 others remain in custody over that case, NDTV reported.

Authorities confirmed Kushal had dated the girl for two years before their recent breakup. The Soladevanahalli police registered a case after the disturbing video surfaced on social media. The attack, recorded by the assailants, has sparked outrage, with many condemning the vigilante-style violence.