Bengaluru: Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking relief from a one-year restriction imposed on filing a fresh bail application in the alleged murder case of Renukaswamy. The actor has argued that the trial has progressed slowly despite earlier judicial concerns and that his continued incarceration has resulted in prolonged pre-trial detention.
Petition seeks clarification on bail liberty
Darshan’s latest petition requests a modification of the Supreme Court’s order dated May 15, 2026. According to the plea, the liberty granted by the court to seek bail after one year should be treated as an additional safeguard rather than a restriction preventing him from approaching the court earlier if new circumstances emerge.
The petition seeks clarification that the earlier order should not be interpreted as prohibiting or limiting his right to seek bail or any other legal remedy before the completion of the one-year period.
Background of the case
The legal development comes in connection with the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case. In August 2025, the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to Darshan by the Karnataka High Court. At the time, the apex court observed that no individual, regardless of status or influence, is above the rule of law.
The court had also criticised the High Court’s bail order, describing it as legally and procedurally flawed. It expressed concern that the grant of bail could potentially affect the fairness of the trial proceedings.
Supreme Court had flagged slow trial progress
While rejecting immediate relief earlier this year, the Supreme Court had noted the slow pace of the trial. The status report submitted before the court indicated that only 10 witnesses had been examined over a period of seven months, despite the prosecution proposing to examine nearly 150 witnesses.
Taking note of the delay, the court allowed Darshan the liberty to seek fresh bail after one year if there was no substantial progress in the trial.
In his latest application, the actor has contended that meaningful progress has still not been achieved. The petition states that only formal witnesses have been examined and that several key prosecution witnesses remain to be questioned.
Continued detention cited in plea
Darshan has argued that he has remained in custody since August 2025 and has already undergone significant pre-trial detention. The petition claims that the continued delay in recording evidence has created a fresh constitutional ground for reconsideration of his bail status.
According to the plea, the circumstances now differ from those considered by the court while cancelling his earlier bail, as the trial remains at an early stage despite the passage of considerable time.
Chargesheet details
Investigators have filed a chargesheet running into nearly 4,000 pages in the case. The prosecution has alleged that Darshan was one of the principal accused in the abduction, assault and murder of Renukaswamy in June 2024.
The case has attracted significant public attention in Karnataka and across the country due to the actor’s popularity and the serious nature of the allegations.
What happens next?
The Supreme Court will now decide whether the one-year condition imposed in its earlier order requires clarification or modification. The outcome could determine whether Darshan can pursue a fresh bail application before the expiry of the one-year period while the trial continues.