A Bengaluru court has dismissed a plea filed by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. The plea sought access to home-cooked food, bedding, and books.
ACMM court judge Vishwanath C. Gowdar rejected Darshan’s application, which he had filed following the Karnataka High Court’s suggestion to approach the magistrate court before seeking relief from the High Court.
Darshan’s counsel argued that the actor requires a high-protein diet to maintain his physique and that the prison food was causing him digestive issues. The Court considered a medical report indicating that Darshan was experiencing general weakness and that the chief medical officer in prison had advised him to rest and consume nutritious food. However, the medical officer did not recommend any special or medical diet, the Court noted.
Given these factors and the murder charges Darshan is facing, the Court ruled, “This court is justified to hold that prima facie, at this stage of proceedings, the report of the Chief Medical Officer dated 22.07.2024 does not warrant interference by this court with respect to the food being provided to him. That apart, this court is also of the view that the accused number 2 (Darshan) is not entitled to the relief sought for in the IA pursuant to Rule 728 of the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Manual, 2021, as he is facing allegations of murder.”
The Kannada actor, in his plea, claimed that prison authorities were denying him access to these items, despite Sections 30 and 32 of the Karnataka Prisons Act permitting civil prisoners and undertrials to maintain themselves and receive food and bedding from outside.
On July 19, Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar declined to grant any interim relief, advising Darshan to first approach the magistrate court, similar to how Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approached the Rouse Avenue Court for home-cooked food and medication.
The High Court has kept Darshan’s petition pending, allowing it to be heard if he fails to obtain relief from the magistrate court.
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.
