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.

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has anger issues, a co-star has claimed amid allegations that he got a man killed for posting lewd comments about his co-star Pavithra Gowda.

Anusha Rai, another co-star of Darshan, said in a recent interview she couldn’t believe that the actor was involved in the murder case and that he was a very humble and caring person.

“He has anger issues, but he is also very humble and good. He doesn’t get angry about everything. People talk to him carefully. When I speak to him, I keep within my limits. Darshan has openly admitted in interviews that he has anger issues,” she told Hindustan Times.

She, however, said she wasn’t aware of Darshan’s relationship with Pavithra. Ms Rai also expressed concern about the actor’s wife and 15-year-old child, who are facing hate comments online.

“They need to be left in peace,” she said.

Renuka Swamy, a 33-year-old resident of Chitradurga in Karnataka, was allegedly tortured and killed by Darshan and his fans after they kidnapped him from his home on June 8. Next morning, his body was found in a drain in Bengaluru.

His autopsy found 15 wounds on his body and revealed that he died of shock and haemorrhage.

Darshan, a popular name in the Kannada film industry, was arrested two days later from his Mysuru farmhouse. Pavithra, his co-star, has been named the main accused in the case, and is also in custody. 

Actor Sanjjanaa Galrani, who has worked with him, had earlier told NDTV that he was a “demigod figure” in the Kannada industry and that his arrest marked a “black day” for the artistes.

On Darshan’s “temperamental nature” and past controversies, Ms Galrani had defended him saying he was a “soft-spoken gentleman” with a respectful and gentle nature.

“The person being spoken about in the news and the person that I know feel like two different personalities,” she had stated.

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.