In a significant legal development, the Bengaluru city police have filed a special leave petition (SLP) with the Supreme Court, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s recent decision to grant bail to popular actor Darshan and others implicated in the murder of his fan, Renukaswamy.
The high court’s decision to grant bail was based on the assertion that the accused were not provided adequate notice about the reasons for their arrest—a requirement typically reserved for cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and not generally applied in murder cases. A senior police officer expressed concerns over this rationale, stating, “The accused sought bail on the grounds that statements from eyewitnesses varied, which is expected as each witness recounts events from their perspective. However, these are matters to be addressed during the trial, not in bail proceedings.”
The police further contested the legitimacy of Darshan’s claim for bail on health grounds, noting discrepancies in his health status. “Darshan claimed health issues necessitated bail, yet he has not undergone any surgery and is merely receiving physiotherapy. We have scrutinized this claim thoroughly,” the officer added.
The murder of Renukaswamy, which occurred on June 8, 2024, has been a high-profile case, drawing intense media scrutiny. Renukaswamy was reportedly kidnapped from Chitradurga and later killed in a parking yard at Pattanagere. The police believe that the motive behind the murder was connected to allegations that Renukaswamy had sent inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda, Darshan’s girlfriend and a prime suspect in the investigation.
