The Supreme Court of India on Monday intervened in the ongoing legal proceedings involving Kannada actor Darshan, who is currently incarcerated in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. The court has directed the Karnataka government to provide a detailed report following allegations that the actor is being denied “basic amenities,” including adequate food and light, while in judicial custody.
A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued notice to the state government after hearing a plea filed by the actor. The court expressed a specific interest in verifying the conditions of his confinement and the current status of the trial.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Darshan, argued before the bench that the actor is being subjected to harsh conditions due to a perceived misinterpretation of prior judicial remarks. Rohatgi contended that because the court had previously observed that the actor should not receive “five-star treatment” in jail, prison authorities have swung to the other extreme, denying him fundamental necessities.
“Your Lordships made an observation in the order that he should not get five-star treatment in jail. Due to that direction, I am not even given basic amenities,” Rohatgi submitted. He further alleged that Darshan has been placed in a “quarantine cell” characterized by a total lack of light and insufficient food.
The Supreme Court had previously cancelled the bail granted to Darshan and other accused individuals in the case on August 14 last year.
Beyond the immediate concerns regarding prison conditions, the bench sought clarity on the progress of the underlying murder trial. The Court directed the Registry to ensure that comprehensive reports are submitted within one week.
“We would like to know how many witnesses have been examined and how many witnesses the State proposes to examine,” the bench noted. “We would also like to have a fair idea of how much time the trial court is likely to take before it is concluded.”
Crucially, the Court asked the State to confirm “whether the basic amenities which the undertrial prisoner is entitled to are being provided to the petitioner or not.”
Darshan, a prominent figure in the Kannada film industry, was arrested alongside actress Pavithra Gowda and several others for the alleged abduction and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. According to police investigations, Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda.
The prosecution alleges that the victim was abducted and held in a shed in Bengaluru for three days in June 2024, where he was subjected to brutal torture. His body was later recovered from a drain, leading to the high-profile arrests that have gripped the state of Karnataka.
