Bengaluru:

The prison authorities have provided a television to jailed Kannada superstar Darshan on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Darshan, along with his partner Pavithra Gowda and 15 others is facing charges of kidnapping and murdering his fan, Renukaswamy.

Sources said that the prison authorities allowed the installation of a 32-inch television in Darshan’s cell on early Saturday. Darshan had requested a television from the prison authorities last week, stating that he wanted to keep up with news regarding the submission of the chargesheet in his case and was ‘curious’ to know what was happening in the outside world.

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Sources said that there is a provision to provide a television as per prison guidelines and the delay occurred because the television had to be repaired. The prison authorities had earlier obliged Darshan’s request for a surgical chair, as he was unable to use the Indian toilet available in his cell. Darshan had also requested permission to make phone calls which he was allowed.

They said that Rs 35,000 was deposited into the prisoner’s private account, and he had spent Rs 735 on tea and coffee ordered from the jail canteen. The sources revealed that Darshan has been under pressure following the submission of the charge sheet against him and is worried about the consequences.

Meanwhile, the charge sheet has revealed the cruelty Darshan unleashed on Renukaswamy during his captivity. It mentions that Darshan and the other accused forced Renukaswamy to eat non-vegetarian food, knowing that he was a vegetarian. When Renukaswamy spat out the biryani, Darshan kicked him, berating him for spitting out the food.

Darshan reportedly kicked him repeatedly even as Renukaswamy was bleeding and critically injured. Darshan later travelled to Mysuru city wearing the same shoes, which had traces of Renukaswamy’s blood. However, when the police arrested Darshan the next morning, he was wearing a different pair of shoes. The hotel staff had packed his blood-stained shoes and other belongings and sent them to the residence of Darshan’s wife, Vijayalaxmi, in Bengaluru.

The police later seized all articles belonging to Darshan from Vijayalaxmi’s residence. Sources said that the bloodstain on Darshan’s shoes is one of the crucial pieces of evidence in the case to prove his involvement in the murder.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In a new twist in the kidnap and murder case against Kannada actor Darshan, photos allegedly showing the victim Renukaswamy being tortured before his death have surfaced on Thursday. The photos emerged after the Karnataka Police submitted a 3,991-page chargesheet in the murder case on Wednesday.

According to news agency IANS, one of the photos shows Renukaswamy, shirtless and sitting on the ground in front of parked trucks, in tears. Another image shows him unconscious in front of a truck wearing a vest and blue jeans.

IANS sources said the photos were found on the phone of Darshan’s aide Pavan and were collected as evidence by the police department. The Karnataka police have not issued any official statement regarding the leaked photos.

Sources say that Pavan, who is also an accused in the case, took the photos of Renukaswamy after kidnapping, assaulting and keeping him at a shed. Pavan, then, went to a club where Darshan was partying with friends and showed him the photos. After seeing the photos, Darshan went to actor Pavithra Gowda’s home and brought her to the shed where they continued the assault on Renukaswamy, IANS sources said.

In its chargesheet, the Karnataka Police detailed the alleged brutal torture before his death.

“After being assaulted by Darshan and his gang, Renukaswamy’s chest bones were broken. There are a total of 39 injury marks all over his body. There is also a deep cut on the victim’s head,” the chargesheet read.

It also said that Darshan and his aides used an electrical device to deliver electric shocks to Renukaswamy’s private parts to jolt him awake when he passed out from pain after being repeatedly assaulted.

“After committing the murder, Darshan and the other accused used their influence and money to dispose of the body and attempted to destroy evidence. They also tried to frame other individuals to escape charges,” the chargesheet said.

The Kannada actor is among 17 people, including his friend actor Pavithra Gowda, who are in judicial custody in connection with the murder of his fan Renukaswamy.

The 33-year-old fan had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, after which he was allegedly beaten to death. His body was found near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru’s Sumanahalli on June 9.

It is happy scenes all around. A purported picture of popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is in judicial custody in a murder case, hanging out with three others in clear light of day is steadily going viral.

NDTV cannot independently verify the authenticity of the now-viral image.

Seated on plastic chairs in an open ground, around a grassy patch of land, the four men appear to be looking into the distance, shows the picture.

Darshan, currently lodged in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central jail, is holding a cup in his right hand and a cigarette in the other, shows the picture, and his gaze appears to be fixed at something in the distance.

To his right, is gangster Wilson Garden Naga, and other inmates Nagaraj (Darshan’s manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena. They appear to be looking at something and a hint of smile is visible on their faces.

In July, the Karnataka High Court underlined that all citizens and undertrial prisoners are entitled to a nutritious diet, without any distinctions based on their social or financial status, while hearing a petition filed by the Kannada actor.

Darshan had challenged a magistrate court order that rejected his request for home-cooked food, bedding, and cutlery in prison.

The picture raises doubts whether Darshan – who was arrested in June in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy who allegedly sent obscene texts to his co-star – and his companions were allegedly being provided special facilities inside the jail.

With the photo in wide circulation, the jail authorities have been asked to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Reacting to the picture, Kashinath S Shivanagowdru, Renukaswamy’s father, has demanded a CBI probe and punishment for those behind it.

“With such things there is a feeling that a CBI probe should happen… Looking at the picture I’m surprised to see him (Darshan) with others holding a cigarette and drinking tea. We get a 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 told reporters in the district headquarters town of Chitradurga.

“I know the pain of losing my son…we are deeply pained, and he (Darshan) seems to be enjoying being there, in jail… We still have faith in the police and the government,” the father added.

A total of 17 people, including Darshan along with his friend Pavithra Gowda, are in judicial custody in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to the fan’s murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli on June 9.

New Delhi:

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was recently taken into police custody in connection with the murder of Renuka Swamy, a 33-year-old fan. As the investigation continues, with 17 arrested so far in the case, the unresolved mystery of the disappearance of Darshan’s former manager, Mallikarjun B Sankanagoudar has come to the fore. 

According to a report by OneIndia, Mallikarjun, originally from Karnataka’s Gadag district, worked closely with Darshan, managing his film schedules and various affairs, but has been missing since 2016. His role extended beyond typical managerial duties as he ventured into film production and distribution. However, financial troubles loomed large over Mallikarjun’s professional life.

Investments in film production led to substantial losses, plunging him into debt, the report claims. Among his creditors was veteran actor Arjun Sarja, who reportedly lent him Rs 1 crore. The debt became a legal matter when Mr Sarja filed a lawsuit to recover the loan, citing an agreement related to the distribution of the movie ‘Prema Baraha,’ which he directed.

Reports suggest that Mallikarjun allegedly misappropriated around Rs 2 crore from Darshan. His sudden vanishing act has left many questions unanswered, particularly about the debts and the circumstances surrounding his financial dealings.

Despite ongoing efforts by the police, Mallikarjun remains untraceable. The Thoogudeepa family has remained silent on the issue, leading to speculation about whether there has been a deliberate attempt to ignore the situation.

Renuka Swamy, a devoted fan of Darshan, was allegedly murdered on the orders of the actor himself. Mr Swamy, who worked at a pharmacy, had reportedly been harassing Pavithra Gowda, Darshan’s rumoured girlfriend, by sending her objectionable messages and pictures. This provoked Darshan, leading to the brutal killing orchestrated by a gang.

The police have arrested 17 people in connection with the murder, including Darshan and Pavithra Gowda.