Eight individuals, including a teenage girl, were apprehended for abducting, undressing, and attacking a young man who allegedly blackmailed the 17-year-old by threatening to disclose her previous romances to her family.
The incident, echoing last year’s murder of a youth who had sent obscene content to actor Darshan’s partner Pavithra Gowda, happened on June 30 at Hesaraghatta in Soladevanahalli, north Bengaluru. Authorities have since relocated the girl to a women’s rehabilitation facility.
According to initial police findings, the victim and the minor girl were once in a relationship but parted ways months ago. The girl later grew close to another boy. Learning about this new association, the victim purportedly warned her that he would inform her relatives about her pattern of affairs and breakups. Disturbed by his threats, the girl confided in her new boyfriend. Together, they conspired to abduct the victim.
The group took the youth to a secluded area where they stripped and beat him with sticks.
In a separate case, Kannada film actor Darshan and 16 accomplices, including Pavithra Gowda, were arrested for murdering Renukaswamy on June 8 last year. The pharmacy worker, a fan of Darshan, had posted offensive remarks about Pavithra on Instagram. He was kidnapped, tortured, and fatally beaten before his body was discarded in a drain in Kamakshipalya, nearly 200 kilometers from his native Chitradurga.