Bengaluru: Seven officials from Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail have been suspended after an investigation revealed that Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was allegedly receiving special treatment while in judicial custody. The suspensions come in the wake of a viral photograph and video that have drawn significant public outrage.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar confirmed the suspensions, stating, “The police went there and investigated. Based on a preliminary inquiry, they have found seven officers involved in this, and they have been suspended. Now we are investigating the matter further. It’s a serious security lapse.”
The controversy began when an image of Darshan, currently in custody in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, surfaced online. The photograph shows the actor in a relaxed pose, sitting on a chair, holding a cigarette and a coffee cup, surrounded by three other individuals. Reports suggest that those present with Darshan include notorious criminal Wilson Garden Naga, his manager and co-accused Nagaraj, and another inmate, Kulla Seena. Additionally, a video allegedly showing Darshan speaking to someone over a video call has also circulated online.
This incident has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the preferential treatment allegedly given to Darshan. The actor, who is a prominent figure in Kannada cinema, has been in judicial custody along with 16 others, including his friend Pavithra Gowda, in connection with the brutal murder of Renukaswamy. The case has garnered significant attention due to Darshan’s celebrity status and the gruesome nature of the crime.
Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan of Darshan, was reportedly lured to a shed in RR Nagar by Raghavendra, a member of a Darshan fan club, under the guise of meeting the actor. It was there that the victim was allegedly tortured and killed. The motive behind the murder is said to be related to Renukaswamy’s alleged obscene messages to Ms Gowda, which reportedly provoked Darshan. The victim’s body was discovered near a stormwater drain next to an apartment on June 9, with the post-mortem report confirming that he died due to shock and haemorrhage from multiple blunt injuries.
Kashinath S Shivanagowdru, the father of the deceased, has expressed his shock and anger over the viral image, calling for a thorough investigation. “Looking at the picture, I’m surprised to see him (Darshan) with others holding a cigarette and drinking tea. We doubt whether he is in jail or not. Jail should be a jail and should not become something else. He should be treated like other normal prisoners, but here it looks like he seems to be sitting in a resort,” he said. Kashinath has also hinted at the possibility of requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.
The incident has once again highlighted issues of corruption and preferential treatment within the Indian prison system, particularly for high-profile inmates. As the investigation continues, there are growing calls for accountability and for the suspension of officials involved in the alleged misconduct.