A Bengaluru Court extended the judicial custody of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his friend Pavithra Gowda, and others implicated in the Renukaswamy murder case until August 28.
The 17 accused, including Darshan and Pavithra, were presented before the magistrate via video conferencing from Bengaluru and Tumakuru prisons, where they are currently detained, as their judicial custody was set to expire.
The extension follows a remand application submitted by the Kamakshipalya Police, seeking additional time to continue their investigation. Authorities assert that there is significant evidence linking all the accused to the crime, and the ongoing inquiry is focusing on their involvement. Key scientific evidence collected from the crime scene has been forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), although final reports are still awaited. The case has become increasingly complex, with new charges and investigations emerging, requiring further judicial oversight.
Concerns have also been raised about potential threats or coercion against the family of the deceased, which could jeopardize the case’s integrity. The investigation is expected to be bolstered by additional FSL reports and further input from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which is analyzing technical evidence, according to officials.
Police sources disclosed that 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, allegedly provoking Darshan and leading to Renukaswamy’s murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain beside an apartment in Sumanahalli on June 9.
Raghavendra, one of the accused and a member of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, reportedly lured Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar under the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that Renukaswamy was allegedly tortured and murdered.
The post-mortem report indicates that Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died from shock and hemorrhage caused by multiple blunt injuries. Police sources further allege that Pavithra, identified as accused number one, was the “major cause” of Renukaswamy’s murder, asserting that the investigation has proven she instigated the other accused, conspired with them, and participated in the crime.
