Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court has rejected a plea by actor Darshan and three other accused seeking permission to remain physically present at every hearing in the Renukaswamy murder case.

The court said the accused could instead participate in the proceedings through video conference.

High Court had earlier dismissed Darshan’s plea

The development comes days after the Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition filed by Darshan challenging a sessions court order related to the case.

On August 13, Justice M Nagaprasanna dismissed Darshan’s petition after hearing senior advocate Hasmath Pasha, who represented the actor, and Special Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar.

Darshan, the second accused in the case, had sought to quash the August 10 order of the 58th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru.

The order had refused to allow him to raise objections to a plea filed by co-accused Pradosh Rao, the 14th accused, seeking pardon and permission to turn approver.

Court clarifies co-accused’s rights

The High Court held that a co-accused does not have the right to make submissions when a court is considering another accused’s application under Section 306 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, seeking pardon and permission to become an approver.

The court also referred to a Supreme Court decision concerning the Yogeshgouda murder case involving legislator Vinay Kulkarni. It observed that the ruling and subsequent proceedings concerning the grant of pardon to an approver would also apply to the Renukaswamy murder case.

Darshan remains in judicial custody

Darshan and his friend, actor Pavithra Gowda, are among the 17 accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. Darshan is currently in judicial custody.

The latest court order means the accused will not be permitted to insist on physical presence at every hearing, with video conferencing remaining an option for participating in proceedings.