Supreme Court Takes Bold Step: 4-Week Notice on Actor Darshan’s Bail in Renukaswamy Murder Case

The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice in response to the Karnataka Police’s plea challenging the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and others in the sensational Renukaswamy murder case. The notice, issued on January 24, 2025, also requests responses from Darshan, actress Pavithra Gowda, and five other accused within four weeks.
Background of the Case
The case centres on the alleged June 2024 murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old Darshan admirer. The chargesheet claims that the deceased was kidnapped by Darshan and his colleagues after he allegedly sent pornographic texts to actress Pavithra Gowda. In a Bengaluru shed, the victim endured three days of torment before passing away. They disposed of his remains down a sewer.
In relation to the murder, Darshan and other suspects were taken into custody. In October 2024, the Karnataka High Court granted Darshan temporary medical release so that he could have surgery, notwithstanding the seriousness of the allegations. On December 13, 2024, he and his co-accused were later released on regular bail.
Supreme Court’s Observations
The Karnataka State Government’s senior advocate, Siddarth Luthra, said that the High Court had “white-washed” the case by giving bail without taking the seriousness of the offence into account. He underlined that the High Court’s ruling should not be applied as a model for awarding the co-accused bail.
In order to prevent bail from being revoked, the Supreme Court panel, which included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, decided not to stay the High Court’s ruling. It did clarify, nevertheless, that the other co-accused’s bail requests should not be impacted by the conclusions in the High Court ruling.
The Court ordered that any further bail requests be evaluated separately, on their own merits, and without reference to the High Court’s previous ruling.
State’s Appeal and Prosecution Concerns
The State Government and the Karnataka Police have voiced grave reservations over the ruling of the High Court. The State’s appeal contests the High Court’s leniency and draws attention to procedural errors, including the chargesheet’s lack of case-specific information and the delays in establishing arrest grounds.
According to Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, the police have sent the Supreme Court every necessary document and proof. Before considering any further action, the government waits for the Court’s decision.
Significance of the Case
Due to prominent members of the Kannada cinema industry, the Renukaswamy murder case has attracted a lot of public attention. The case’s verdict is important for the judicial system as well as for public personalities’ responsibility when facing significant criminal charges.
Next Steps
The next stage of the judicial process begins when the accused are instructed by the Supreme Court to submit their answers within four weeks. The decision will probably have wider ramifications for how courts handle bail in situations involving high-profile defendants and severe crimes.
As the case progresses, everyone is waiting for the Supreme Court’s ultimate decision, which will dictate how justice is administered in this well-known case. Visit the site for further updates.