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Bengaluru, Nov 3 (IANS) A Karnataka court on Monday framed charges against jailed Kannada superstar Darshan, his partner Pavitra Gowda and 15 other accused in the sensational fan murder case.
Darshan and all the other accused denied all charges against them in the case of the gruesome murder of his fan Renukaswamy here on June 8, 2024. Renukaswamy was kidnapped from his hometown, Chitradurga, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed and tortured to death.
After the murder his body was thrown into the canal. The incident came to light when security personnel at a private apartment building spotted the body being dragged by a pack of dogs.
Judge Irappanna Pavadi Naik read out the charges against Darshan, Pavitra Gowda and other accused and sought their reactions. The court also asked him to confirm whether he was able to hear the allegations clearly.
Subsequently, the judge announced that the trial date would be fixed for November 10 and the case was adjourned.
The jail authorities had produced Darshan, Pavitra Gowda and other accused in the court. Tight security arrangements were made in the 64th CCH Court complex with the deputation of additional police force.
Initially, the judge directed that only advocates related to the case should be present, otherwise he would adjourn the case, questioning where he would stand the 17 accused when he started the process of framing charges. He had also instructed the lawyers who were gathering in the court room to leave.
Darshan has been booked under IPC section 302 for murder, while he has been booked under section 355 for causing grievous hurt, section 120-B for criminal conspiracy, section 204 for attempt to destroy evidence and section 359 for kidnapping. They have also been booked under sections 143, 147, 148 and 149 for illegal assembly and other charges.
The court had earlier fixed October 31 for framing of charges. However, Darshan’s lawyer Sunil requested time to explain to his client the process of framing charges. He argued that if the accused agreed to charges without providing adequate information, it could lead to legal complications in the future.
Accepting the request, the court adjourned the case till November 3. It also directed both parties to cooperate to ensure expeditious investigation of witnesses in the case.
The police had filed a 3,991-page charge sheet against Darshan, Pavitra Gowda and 15 associates in the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on September 4, 2024. Sources said that Darshan’s role in the sensational kidnapping and brutal murder case has been confirmed.
It mentions the role of Darshan and Pavitra Gowda in conspiracy, kidnapping, torture, murder, destruction of evidence and misleading the police by getting four of their associates to surrender before the police in connection with the murder of their admirer Renukaswamy.
Police have matched the CCTV tower location of the accused with the crime scene and calls, messages between the accused match the time of the crime. The most important thing is that the police has received confirmation from the Forensic Science Lab (FSL) that there are blood stains on Darshan’s clothes.
The police have collected evidence in connection with the events of the day of the crime. When Renukaswamy was brought to the shed, the police retrieved those messages after Darshan got the information. The accused had sent a photograph of Renukaswamy to Darshan, which has been recovered by the police.
The investigating officers have recorded the statements of 24 witnesses before the judge under the provisions of Section 164 of the CrPC. Photographs have been recovered from the mobile phone of one of the accused Pradush.
Darshan, Pavitra Gowda and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024 for kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy. Renukaswamy allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavitra Gowda, angering Darshan who continued to have an affair with her despite being married.
Darshan was shifted to Ballari jail after pictures of his alleged “royal behaviour” surfaced in Bengaluru Central Jail. At present there are three FIRs against him related to the case.
Darshan was released from jail on October 30, 2024, after spending 131 days in custody. Following an appeal by the Karnataka Police, the Supreme Court canceled the bail and Darshan, his associate Pavitra Gowda and others were re-arrested.
–IANS
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