Actor Darshan case: Gruesome details are surfacing in the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, allegedly tortured and killed by popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, co-star Pavithra Gowda, and their fans. The autopsy report revealed that Renukaswamy died from “shock haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.”
Renukaswamy was reportedly beaten with sticks, tied up, and subjected to electric shocks. The brutality extended to his testicles being ruptured and an ear missing, with his body discovered in a Bengaluru drain on June 9, partially eaten by dogs.
What happened on June 8
According to the Karnataka Police, the actors conspired to murder Renukaswamy after he made lewd comments about Pavithra Gowda on social media. Other suspects disclosed that on Darshan’s instructions, Renukaswamy was kidnapped on June 8 from Chitradurga and taken to a shed in Bengaluru, where he was tortured and killed.
The police remand report detailed the horrific events: Renukaswamy was beaten with wooden clubs, tied up, and given electric shocks before his body was dumped in a drain at midnight. His mobile phone and that of Raghvendra, a Darshan fan club member involved in the kidnapping, were also discarded.
Evidence collected by Karnataka Police
The police have collected various pieces of evidence, including bloodstain samples from the shed’s security room, hair strands, clothes worn by Renukaswamy, and the footwear of Darshan and Pavithra. CCTV footage from the shed, toll booths between Chitradurga and Bengaluru, and the house of Pradosh, who aided in disposing of the body, have been obtained.
Also Read: 15 wounds on his body, actor Darshan’s murder victim Renukaswamy died of shock, haemorrhage: Autopsy
A megger device allegedly used to administer electric shocks has also been seized.
False confessions and the investigation
Pavithra Gowda is the main accused in the murder case, which has shocked the Kannada film industry. It was revealed that the actors hired four men to take the blame for the murder, paying two of them Rs 5 lakh each for false confessions and promising the other two the same amount for going to jail. Darshan allegedly paid Rs 30 lakh in cash to Pradosh for disposing of the body. However, the plan unravelled when the men, who had surrendered to protect Darshan, confessed during interrogation that the actors were the masterminds behind the murder.
The police custody of Darshan and Pavithra ends on Thursday, and the two actors are expected to be presented in court.
Public reaction
The case has sent shockwaves through the Kannada film industry and the general public, with many calling for swift justice. The brutal nature of the crime and the involvement of prominent figures in the entertainment industry have led to widespread condemnation and demands for thorough investigation and accountability.
