Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has been sent to judicial custody in connection with the murder case of Renukaswamy. Darshan, along with three other accused—Pradosh, Vinay, and Dhanraj—will be lodged in Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Jail, marking his second imprisonment there.
Darshan was arrested on June 11 for the torture and murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old auto driver from Chitradurga. According to police sources, the victim was a fan of the actor and had sent obscene messages to Gowda, a friend of Darshan. This allegedly enraged Darshan, leading to the murder. Renukaswamy's body was found near a stormwater drain adjacent to an apartment in Bengaluru's Sumanahalli area on June 9. The autopsy revealed details of gruesome torture, including ear and testicle mutilation.
In 2011, Darshan was previously jailed for assaulting his wife, Vijayalakshmi. He was sent to custody for 28 days in the same Parappana Agrahara jail before being released on bail. The couple later resolved the matter, and the case was withdrawn.
In the current case, the Bengaluru court has remanded Darshan and 13 other accused, including Pavithra Gowda, to judicial custody. The Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar requested the judge to move some of the accused to different prisons to prevent possible conspiracy among them.
This case has attracted significant media attention due to the involvement of a high-profile actor and the brutal nature of the crime. Renukaswamy's murder has highlighted issues of fan behavior and the extent to which personal grievances can escalate. The legal proceedings and the details emerging from the investigation will likely keep the public and media engaged.
Darshan's fan club members are also implicated in the case, accused of kidnapping and torturing Renukaswamy. The involvement of fan club members points to a disturbing trend of fan loyalty turning violent, a phenomenon that has been observed in other high-profile cases as well.
The judicial custody is set until July 4, and the investigation continues to uncover the full extent of the crime and the roles played by each accused. The case against Darshan and his associates will likely be a lengthy and complex one, given the number of people involved and the severity of the charges.
The public's response has been mixed, with some expressing shock and disappointment in the actor, while others stand by him, citing his previous contributions to the film industry. The case has also sparked discussions about the responsibilities of public figures and the influence they wield over their followers.
As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to observe how the legal system handles the high-profile nature of the accused and the implications for justice in such sensitive and brutal cases. The outcome will not only affect the lives of those directly involved but also set a precedent for how similar cases might be handled in the future.
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