SC Cancels Bail; Actor Darshan and Pavithra Gowda Arrested in Renukaswamy Murder Case 2
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.
At least 10 people are feared dead after a massive cloudburst struck the remote Chasoti village in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The incident occurred along the route to the revered Machail Mata shrine, forcing authorities to suspend the annual pilgrimage.
Officials said Chasoti, the last motorable village before the shrine, was hit by the sudden disaster, prompting an immediate rescue and relief operation. The administration has mobilised all available resources, with personnel from the Civil Administration, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF rushing to the scene.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, posting on X, “Anguished by the cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for quick recovery of injured. Directed officials to strengthen rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided.”
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that he had spoken to Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, adding that “administration has immediately swung into action” and dispatched rescue teams to the site.
Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh are on their way to supervise the ongoing rescue efforts. A team led by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Padder has already reached the area, where at least 10 casualties are feared.
Stray Dogs in India: A Public Health Crisis and Governance Challenge 6
Stray dogs present a growing challenge in India, driven by a combination of public health risks, safety concerns, and unresolved animal welfare issues. With an estimated 62 million stray dogs in the country, India continues to report one of the highest rates of rabies-related deaths globally—accounting for approximately 36% of all human rabies deaths worldwide. Despite being a vaccine-preventable disease that has been largely eradicated in developed nations, rabies remains endemic in India, primarily due to the unchecked stray dog population.
Beyond rabies, the threat of dog bites is a daily concern. In 2024 alone, India reported over 3.7 million dog bite cases. Children, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, are increasingly vulnerable. Parents often fear sending their children outdoors due to the possibility of attacks, especially in lower-income neighborhoods where civic infrastructure is lacking.
This crisis is not accidental—it is symptomatic of poor urban governance. Unregulated garbage disposal and overflowing dumpsites provide an abundant and steady food source for stray animals. As natural scavengers, dogs survive and multiply in areas where waste is mismanaged. In contrast, cities around the world that store garbage in sealed containers and maintain regular waste collection schedules have effectively eliminated stray dog populations from public spaces.
India’s failure to control its stray dog population is further compounded by the poor implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs, along with the establishment of shelter homes. Civic agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have repeatedly failed to create adequate shelter infrastructure or enforce existing animal control norms. This governance vacuum has allowed the problem to escalate into a full-blown public health emergency.
Recognising the seriousness of the issue, the Supreme Court of India issued a landmark order on August 11, 2025, directing immediate and coordinated action to remove stray dogs from all areas of Delhi-NCR, particularly vulnerable localities and city outskirts. The Court ordered the creation of shelter homes capable of housing at least 5,000 dogs within 6–8 weeks, complete with personnel, sterilisation, vaccination, and 24/7 CCTV monitoring systems. These shelters are to prevent the release of dogs back onto the streets, a practice that undermines the intent of population control efforts.
The order further directs civic authorities across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram to maintain detailed records of captured dogs and to produce them in court. A dedicated helpline is also to be launched within a week to ensure all dog bite incidents are reported and responded to within four hours. Rabies vaccination availability must be transparently tracked and disclosed.
The Court has made it clear that this is not a debate between human safety and animal rights. Rather, it is about responsible governance. Humane population control, robust waste management, and the creation of adequate shelter infrastructure must go hand-in-hand. Authorities have also been warned that any attempt by individuals or organisations to obstruct the process will be treated as contempt of court.
The urgency of this directive stems from the need to protect human lives—particularly infants and children—while also ensuring that stray animals are treated with dignity and care. The current situation is untenable: stray dogs are forced to fend for themselves in hostile environments, often suffering from disease, injury, starvation, and abuse. Leaving animals to languish on the streets is not kindness; it is systemic neglect.
At the heart of this issue lies the need for better urban planning, effective enforcement of public health laws, and sincere commitment from all stakeholders. The Supreme Court’s intervention should not be seen as punitive but as a call to action—one that prioritises safety, compassion, and accountability.
Unless immediate, humane, and large-scale action is taken, both public safety and animal welfare will continue to suffer. The choice before us is clear: enforce responsible, science-backed population control now, or allow the crisis to deepen with devastating consequences for both people and animals.
Rahul Gandhi's Lawyer Withdraws 'Threat' Plea in Savarkar Defamation Case, Cites Lack of Consent 8
In a dramatic turn in the Savarkar defamation case, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer on Thursday withdrew a plea from a Pune court that claimed the parliamentarian faced threats from followers of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Advocate Milind Pawar, representing Gandhi in the case, confirmed that the court had accepted the withdrawal. The move came just a day after Pawar filed the plea, later stating it was done without Gandhi’s consent.
Pawar, in a late Wednesday press release, said Gandhi had taken “strong exception” to the filing and disagreed with its contents. The plea, filed earlier that day, alleged that complainant Satyaki Savarkar—grand-nephew of V D Savarkar—had acknowledged being a descendant, through maternal lineage, of Nathuram Godse and Gopal Godse, key accused in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
The withdrawn application claimed that in light of historical “violent and anti-constitutional tendencies” linked to the complainant’s lineage, combined with current political tensions, there was a “clear, reasonable, and substantial” apprehension of harm or wrongful implication to Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi, who is out on bail in the defamation case, is accused of making remarks in a March 2023 London speech suggesting V D Savarkar once boasted about assaulting a Muslim man. The complainant has denied the claim, asserting no such incident or writing exists. The trial in the case is yet to begin.
Supreme Court Revokes Bail of Actor Darshan in Renukaswamy Murder Case 10
The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case.
A bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan overturned the Karnataka High Court’s December 13, 2024 order, ruling that it suffered from “serious infirmities” and appeared to be a “mechanical exercise” conducted at a pre-trial stage.
“The trial court is the appropriate forum to assess such matters. The well-founded allegations, supported by forensic evidence, justify the cancellation of bail,” the bench stated.
The ruling came in response to an appeal by the Karnataka government challenging the High Court’s decision to grant bail to Darshan and his co-accused, including actress Pavithra Gowda.
Darshan, Gowda, and several others stand accused of abducting and torturing 33-year-old fan Renukaswamy, who allegedly sent obscene messages to Gowda. According to police, the victim was held in a shed in Bengaluru for three days in June 2024 before being killed, with his body later recovered from a drain.
The Supreme Court had earlier, on January 24, issued notices to the accused following the state government’s plea.
Supreme Court Begins Hearing on Stray Dog Issue in Delhi-NCR 12
The Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing a case concerning the growing stray dog problem in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria is presiding over the proceedings.
The matter follows an earlier directive issued on August 11 by a two-judge bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, which instructed authorities across Delhi-NCR to start removing stray dogs from all localities “at the earliest” and relocate them to designated shelters.
The court had also ordered the immediate establishment of dog shelters, asking for a status report on such infrastructure within eight weeks. It stressed that stray dogs should remain in these facilities and not be released back onto streets, colonies, or public spaces.
The directions were issued during the hearing of a suo motu case initiated on July 28, prompted by a surge in stray dog bite incidents leading to rabies cases, particularly among children in the national capital.
Rahul Gandhi Slams SC Order to Remove All Stray Dogs from Delhi-NCR 14
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR, calling it a reversal of decades of humane, science-backed policy. He argued that “blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion,” emphasising that shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care can keep streets safe without resorting to mass removal.
His comments came a day after the Supreme Court ordered Delhi-NCR authorities to permanently relocate all stray dogs to shelters “at the earliest” in view of an “extremely grim” situation caused by dog bites and rabies, particularly affecting children.
The apex court directed the creation of shelters for about 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, staffed for sterilisation, vaccination, and care, and monitored via CCTV to ensure animals remain inside. It also warned of strict action, including contempt proceedings, against anyone obstructing the removal of strays.
A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan questioned animal activists, asking if they could “bring back children” who died from rabies, stressing the need for decisive action in the face of public health threats.
The suo motu case was initiated on July 28 after reports of rabies deaths linked to stray dog bites in Delhi. The order applies to the Delhi government as well as the civic bodies of Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad.
LS Speaker Initiates Probe into Justice Yashwant Varma, Forms 3-Member Panel 16
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday admitted a notice seeking the removal of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma and announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate the allegations against him.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, Birla said the removal process must commence given the serious nature of the charges. The panel will be led by Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, along with Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and senior advocate of the Karnataka High Court B.V. Acharya.
“The committee will submit its report at the earliest. The proposal for Justice Varma’s removal will remain pending until the inquiry committee’s report is received,” Birla stated.
Supreme Court Upholds Bombay HC Crackdown on Pigeon Feeding in Mumbai 18
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to interfere with the Bombay High Court’s order directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to register FIRs against those feeding pigeons in defiance of a ban. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said it would be improper for the apex court to hear the matter parallelly and advised the petitioner to seek modification of the order before the High Court.
On July 30, the Bombay High Court, responding to petitions from animal welfare activists, ruled that pigeon feeding at kabootarkhanas had become a public health hazard, particularly for children and the elderly. The bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor authorised the BMC to file cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to public nuisance and acts likely to spread infectious or life-threatening diseases. The court also directed the installation of security cameras at locations where feeding continued.
The order has sparked strong protests in Mumbai. Last Wednesday, hundreds clashed with police at the Dadar kabootarkhana, tearing down tarpaulin sheets installed by authorities to block feeding activities.
Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister | Image : PTI
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced the revised Income-Tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, replacing the decades-old Income Tax Act, 1961. The updated bill comes after the government accepted “almost all” recommendations of the Select Committee chaired by Baijayant Panda, along with additional suggestions from stakeholders to ensure the legal provisions are more precise.
The original Income-Tax Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13, but has now been withdrawn to make way for the modified version. According to the statement of objects and reasons, the changes include corrections in drafting, alignment of phrases, consequential amendments, and cross-referencing to improve clarity and coherence.
Sitharaman said the revised legislation consolidates and amends the existing law on income tax, reflecting both the Select Committee’s proposals and feedback from various stakeholders to strengthen the bill’s legal framework.
