Bengaluru: Police investigations have uncovered that Renuka Swamy, who was murdered under the guise of meeting a girl, was called to Bengaluru by the accused.
Renuka Swamy had been using an Instagram account under the alias ‘Reddy 2205,’ posting abusive and obscene comments on actress Pavitra Gowda’s posts. To identify Renuka Swamy, accused Raghavendra created a fake account posing as a young woman and engaged in a chat for three to four days. Believing he was chatting with a young woman, Renuka Swamy was lured to Bangalore and subsequently kidnapped by Raghavendra.
Why the Shed Was Chosen for the Crime
Vinay, a hotelier and relative of Pattagere Jayanna, is also implicated in the crime. Vinay, who was known in actor Darshan’s circle, had access to a shed frequently visited by Darshan. Renuka Swamy was taken to this shed and beaten badly. Jayanna mentioned that he had leased the shed for parking of seized vehicles but assured full cooperation with the investigation, emphasizing that wrongdoers should be punished.
Escape Attempt and Discovery of the Body
The accused planned to dispose of the body in the Rajkaluve, hoping it would wash away and leave no evidence. However, the next day, a security guard noticed the body being dragged by dogs and he reported it to police. When the body was discovered, the distraught accused surrendered, raising suspicions about whether they acted on Darshan’s orders or sought his protection.
Interrogation of Darshan
Darshan was brought to Annapurneswari Nagar police station from a Mysore hotel. West Division DCP Girish, ACP Chandankumar interrogated the accused throughout the day. The accused reportedly gave conflicting statements about the crime. Darshan was allowed to contact his wife and son.
