In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court has granted interim bail for six weeks to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently in jail due to his involvement in the Renukaswamy murder case. The decision was made by Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty, who approved the bail to allow the actor to undergo necessary surgery.
The court’s ruling came after hearing detailed arguments from Darshan’s legal representative, senior advocate CV Nagesh, and state public prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar. The state presented medical reports regarding Darshan’s health, submitted in a sealed envelope, from doctors at Ballari Central Prison, where he is incarcerated, and from the head of the neurology department at a local government hospital.
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Nagesh argued that the actor has been suffering from numbness in both feet and requested permission for him to have surgery at a private hospital in Mysuru, assuring the court that he would bear all associated costs. However, Kumar contested the request, pointing out that the medical documents lacked details on the expected duration of Darshan’s hospitalization and suggested that the surgery could be performed at a government facility.
In response, Justice Shetty noted that the state does not have the authority to dictate an undertrial’s medical treatment location, referencing Supreme Court precedents. The court, however, inquired why Mysuru was chosen as the surgery location, suggesting that a doctor in Bengaluru could evaluate the urgency and need for surgery.
Despite the opposition, Nagesh maintained the request for the procedure to occur in Mysuru, while Kumar proposed that Darshan undergo a medical assessment by a state-appointed board.
Darshan’s initial bail application, submitted on September 21, had been denied by a sessions court, prompting him to appeal to the high court for interim relief to receive medical treatment.
The background of the case involves the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, who allegedly sent inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda, a co-accused in the case. This incident reportedly incited the anger of Darshan, leading to Renukaswamy’s murder. His body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Sumanahalli on June 9. According to police reports, Raghavendra, another accused associated with Darshan’s fan club, brought Renukaswamy to a shed in Bengaluru under the pretense of a meeting with the actor, where he was subsequently tortured and killed. The post-mortem indicated that Renukaswamy died from shock and hemorrhage caused by multiple blunt force injuries. Police have identified Pavithra as a principal instigator in the murder, claiming her involvement was critical to the planning and execution of the crime.
(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)
