Karnataka HC Defers Hearing on Actor Darshan’s Plea for Home-Cooked Food

The Karnataka High Court has deferred the hearing of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa’s petition to September 5, 2024.

The petition seeks permission for home-cooked food, bedding, and cutlery while he remains in judicial custody. This decision follows a report from prison authorities, informing the court of their denial of Darshan’s requests.

On July 31, Justice M. Nagaprasanna instructed the prison authorities to consider Darshan’s representation and issue an appropriate order, which has since been communicated to the court. The actor’s legal counsel has requested an additional week to review the order before making further submissions.

Darshan had initially challenged a trial court’s July 25 decision, which rejected his plea for home-cooked meals.

The trial court referred to a report from the Chief Medical Officer, dated July 22, 2024, which stated that the food provided in jail was adequate, and that Darshan was not entitled to the relief sought under Rule 728 of the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Manual, 2021, especially in light of the serious charges against him, including allegations of murder.

In his petition, Darshan claimed to suffer from stomach-related issues and argued that, as an actor, he adheres to a high-protein diet essential for maintaining his physique, which can only be sustained with home-cooked meals. Darshan was arrested on June 11, 2024, in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case and has been in judicial custody since June 22.

The body of 33-year-old auto-driver Renukaswamy was found on June 9. It is alleged that he died from injuries sustained in an attack carried out on Darshan’s instructions. The actor allegedly urged his fans to accost Renukaswamy for making derogatory comments about his alleged partner, Pavithra Gowda, on social media.