Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, is currently under investigation for allegedly receiving “VIP treatment” at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. Dr. Chandragupta, head of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru City Police, visited the Ballari prison on Monday to further the inquiry.
Darshan was moved to Ballari after evidence surfaced in August showing him enjoying special privileges at Parappana Agrahara, including smoking on the prison lawn and consuming beverages. Leaked photographs also indicated that he made video calls to aides while incarcerated, prompting public outrage and a response from Karnataka’s Congress government, which decided to transfer him.
Three separate FIRs are being investigated in relation to the leaked photos and videos. Bengaluru City Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjunath Babu is overseeing the first case, which examines the jail officials who facilitated Darshan’s lenient treatment. Following this, the jail superintendent was reassigned, and seven other officials were suspended.
The second case investigates how Darshan managed to make video calls while in prison, with two accomplices, Sathya and Dharma, being probed for allegedly smuggling a mobile phone into the facility. The third case looks into how cigarettes and beverages reached Darshan inside the jail, naming individuals Nagaraj, Wilson, and Kullu Seena alongside the actor.
In the ongoing Renukaswamy murder case, the Karnataka High Court has instructed the state government to provide Darshan’s medical records while considering his bail plea. Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, was reportedly kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Darshan’s henchmen after sending inappropriate messages to Darshan’s girlfriend, Pavithra Gowda. Post-mortem results indicated that Renukaswamy died from shock and hemorrhage due to multiple blunt force injuries.
Darshan allegedly admitted to assaulting Renukaswamy and encouraged Gowda to beat him with her footwear. He further admitted to physically attacking Renukaswamy, who appeared beaten and exhausted upon their arrival. A total of 17 individuals have been arrested in connection with this case, including Darshan and Gowda.
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