Two more accused seek approver status in Darshan fan murder case

Bengaluru, Aug 6 (AHN) In a fresh twist to the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case involving jailed Kannada superstar Darshan, two more accused have approached a Bengaluru court seeking to turn approvers, days after Accused No. 14, Pradosh, moved a similar plea offering to disclose the truth behind the crime.

Accused No. 8, Ravishankar, and Accused No. 10, Vinay, on Thursday informed the 59th CCH (Sessions) Court in Bengaluru that they would file separate applications seeking pardon and permission to become approvers in the case.

The development came during the hearing of the application filed by Accused No. 14, Pradosh, who has sought to be made an approver, expressing his willingness to reveal all facts related to the alleged murder of Renukaswamy.

Counsel appearing for Ravishankar and Vinay urged the court to consider their clients as approvers as well and informed the bench that separate petitions would be filed later in the day. Both Ravishankar and Vinay are currently out on bail.

However, the advocate representing Pradosh requested the Sessions Court not to club the applications of the other two accused with his client's plea. He argued that the court should first record Pradosh's statement and thereafter allow the prosecution to take an appropriate decision on the subsequent applications.

It can be recalled that Pradosh, through his advocate, has sought pardon from the court under the provisions relating to approvers, stating that he is prepared to reveal the complete truth behind the crime.

In a separate application, he has also requested permission to participate in the proceedings through video conferencing from a separate room. At present, he is produced virtually from the same room as the other accused, including Darshan.

The 59th CCH Court has directed the prosecution to clarify its stand on Pradosh's application.

The Renukaswamy murder case has drawn widespread public attention since Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 16 others, including his partner Pavithra Gowda, were arrested and charge-sheeted for the alleged abduction and murder of the 33-year-old fan from Chitradurga.

According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted and brought to Bengaluru in June 2024 over obscene messages he had allegedly sent to Pavithra Gowda. Investigators claim he was brutally assaulted and tortured inside a shed before succumbing to his injuries. His body was later dumped near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of the city.

The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled Darshan's bail, directing his immediate re-arrest and ordering that no VIP privileges be extended to him in prison. The trial in the sensational case is currently underway before the Bengaluru Sessions Court.