Bengaluru police arrested Kannada actor Darshan and prime accused Pavithra Gowda on Thursday, August 14, just hours after the Supreme Court cancelled the bail of all accused in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case.
According to reports, Darshan was picked up while visiting his wife’s residence in Hosakerehalli, reportedly entering through the exit gate to evade media presence. After meeting his wife and son, he was taken into custody. Pavithra was detained from her RR Nagar home by Govindarajnagar police and will be produced before a trial court following a medical examination.
Three co-accused — Pradoosh S Rao alias Pradoosh, Lakshman M, and Nagaraju R — were also arrested soon after the apex court’s order.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan set aside the Karnataka High Court’s December 2024 bail order, describing it as “perverse” and “wholly unwarranted.” The court criticised the High Court for granting bail “in a mechanical manner,” noting that the decision suffered from “serious legal infirmity” and represented an “arbitrary exercise” of discretion. The bench also warned the state government against extending any special treatment to the accused in prison.
The case involves the alleged abduction and murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old pharmacist from Chitradurga, on June 8, 2024. Investigators claim he was tortured for three days in a Bengaluru shed before his body was dumped in a stormwater drain. The alleged motive stems from obscene messages he is said to have sent to Pavithra Gowda. Police have filed a 3,991-page chargesheet naming 17 accused, including Darshan and Pavithra.
