Actor Darshan arrested again hours after SC cancels bail in Renukaswamy murder case

Kannada actor Darshan was arrested by Bengaluru Police on Thursday, hours after the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to him by the Karnataka High Court in the Renukaswamy murder case. The apex court called the HC’s order “illogical” and “perverse”, stating that granting bail in such circumstances could impact the trial and allow the accused to influence witnesses. The bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, said, “Popularity cannot be a shield for impunity. Influence, resources and social status cannot form a basis for granting bail where there is a genuine risk of prejudice to the investigation or trial.”

The court also cancelled the bail of co-accused and actress Pavithra Gowda. She was taken into custody from her residence in Bengaluru following the order. Police sources said Darshan was detained from his wife’s residence in Hosakerehalli, where he had entered from the exit gate to avoid the media. He met his wife and son before being taken away by officers.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and several others were first arrested on June 11, 2024, for the alleged abduction and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy in Bengaluru. Investigators said Renukaswamy was abducted from Chitradurga and taken to a shed in Bengaluru, where he was assaulted. The chargesheet stated that Darshan hit him with a tree branch, kicked him on the head, chest and near the neck, and ordered associates to kidnap and assault him.

According to the chargesheet, the victim was also subjected to electric shocks on his private parts, which damaged one of his testicles, and suffered broken chest bones along with 39 injury marks across his body, including a deep head wound. Police said the motive was linked to obscene messages allegedly sent by Renukaswamy to Pavithra Gowda. His body was found dumped in a drain in Bengaluru on June 8, 2024. Darshan was granted bail on December 13, 2024, after spending five months in custody before the Supreme Court’s cancellation order on Thursday.