Renukaswamy murder: Darshan Thoogudeepa’s judicial custody extended?

Kannada superstar Darshan, who was arrested on June 11 in connection with the death of Renukaswamy, has been in judicial custody since then

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Darshan Thoogudeepa’s judicial custody in the Renukaswamy murder case ended on August 1. However, in the absence of a bail application from his lawyers and the investigation officials’ plea to keep the actor in judicial custody until the chargesheet is filed, the court ordered for him and al the other accused in the case to remain in jail until August 14.

The police are expected to officially file a chargesheet in the case by the end of August, given that they have leeway of up to 90 days in offences punishable with more than 10 years imprisonment. Given that the actor has been named accused no. 2 in the death of 35-year-old Chitradurga resident Renukaswamy, the police will keep him in judicial custody for as long as possible to ensure there’s no interference in the investigation process and that witnesses who have come forward to provide information remain safe and sound.

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Why Darshan was arrested

For the uninitiated, Kannada superstar Darshan Thoogudeepa is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and torture of Renukaswamy, who allegedly sent obscene messages to the actor’s partner of many years, Pavithra Gowda. A Darshan fan, Renukaswamy is said to have urged Pavithra not to be spoke in the wheel of the actor’s marriage with Vijayalakshmi, in a rather offensive tone. This had been going on for a while, which was then brought to the attention of the actor.

It is alleged, that Darshan then instructed his fans in Chitradurga to lure Renukaswamy to Bengaluru, where he was then taken to the now infamous Pattanagere shed, a dumpyard for loan recovery vehicles, and tortured. Darshan is alleged to have partaken in the torture. Renukaswamy later succumbed to the injuries sustained and his body was then disposed.

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During the investigation into the discovery of an unknown body, the victim’s identity was revealed, following which, four men surrendered before the Kamakshipalaya police claiming to have been behind the murder. The call logs of these men, though, pointed to the involvement of actor Darshan in the crime, which was later substantiated by the CCTV footage of his vehicle entering and exiting the shed.

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