Court reserves order on actor Darshan's jail facility plea for Oct 9

Court reserves order on actor Darshan's jail facility plea for Oct 9

A court here on Tuesday reserved its order for October 9 on a petition concerning the jail facilities provided to actor Darshan, who is currently lodged in Bengaluru prison as an accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Jail authorities submitted a report to the 57th Sessions court here during the hearing, and the Judge heard extensive arguments from both sides.

During the hearing, the actor's counsel, advocate Sunil, pressed for Darshan to be shifted to a different cell. He contended that excessive restrictions were being imposed on his client.

"Many VIPs have been imprisoned. Were they all given the same kind of security? Why is so much security only for Darshan?". He also questioned why his client was kept in a quarantine cell for 45 days when the jail manual mentions only 14 days.

He also cited treatment given to other inmates. "Look at the facilities Umesh Reddy (convicted rapist) was given -- luxurious ones. If needed, I can produce documents," he submitted.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prasanna Kumar, opposing the petition, urged the counsel to be specific. "My dear friend, just tell us what facilities you want. We are already providing what is required. Why all this argument beyond that?" The judge too intervened, asking Sunil to limit his arguments. "Ask for what you want. We don't have time for this; there is other work pending," the judge remarked.

Sunil, countering SPP, claimed that a new law was being created that did not exist. He insisted that the term "quarantine" does not appear in the jail manual. "If that word was there, I would have withdrawn the case right away," he argued.

The SPP pointed out that "quarantine" appears in the manual.

The court, after hearing both sides, reserved its order.