The Bengaluru Police on Thursday filed a massive 3991-page chargesheet in the murder case of Renukaswamy, a fan of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa. The chargesheet, which comprises seven volumes and 10 files, implicates both Darshan and his friend, Pavithra Gowda, in the alleged conspiracy and execution of Renukaswamy’s murder.
The chargesheet, submitted to the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, includes a wealth of evidence, including 231 witness statements, technical and electronic evidence, and several photographs from the crime scene. Forensic reports of bloodstains on Darshan’s clothes and Pavithra’s footwear have also been submitted.
According to police reports, Renukaswamy had sent obscene photos and derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda, believing she was destroying Darshan’s family life. This ultimately led to Pavithra instigating Darshan to punish Renukaswamy, culminating in his death.
On June 9th, Renukaswamy’s body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli. He had been lured to the location under the pretense of a meeting with Darshan. A member of Darshan’s fan club from Chitradurga had brought him to a shed in R R Nagar, where he was allegedly tortured and murdered. Darshan is accused of beating Renukaswamy with a belt. The post-mortem report revealed that Renukaswamy died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda stated that a ‘watertight’ chargesheet was prepared after a thorough investigation of all aspects of the case. He also mentioned that 17 individuals have been arrested and are currently in judicial custody. There are three direct eyewitnesses to the events, and 27 witnesses have provided statements to the court, while others have given statements to the police.
Several materials collected during the investigation have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Bengaluru and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad for analysis. The case includes 56 police officers as witnesses.
The chargesheet against the 17 accused has been filed on the basis of eyewitness accounts, circumstantial, technical, scientific, and other evidence gathered by the investigators. The evidence collected has been submitted to the court under section 173 (8) of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure), which allows the investigating agency to continue their probe.
Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others are currently under judicial custody in different prisons across the state. This case has sent shockwaves through the Kannada film industry and the public, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against the actor and his friend.
