Renukaswamy Murder Case: Trial of Darshan and Co-Accused Begins November 10

A Bengaluru court has charged Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others in the 2024 Renukaswamy murder case. The trial is set to begin on November 10. The charges stem from allegations that Renukaswamy was kidnapped and murdered by the group after sending inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda. His body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Sumanahalli.

Renukaswamy, who worked at a medical shop in Chitradurga, was allegedly abducted by associates of Darshan. He was taken to a shed in Bengaluru where he was reportedly beaten to death by Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and others. The group then disposed of his body in an attempt to hide the crime, according to police allegations detailed in a charge sheet filed on September 3, 2024.

Charges and Court Proceedings

The court has framed charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 302 for murder, Section 359 for kidnapping, Section 120(b) for criminal conspiracy, and Section 204 for attempting to destroy evidence. All accused have pleaded "not guilty" to these charges during the proceedings held at the Additional City Civil and Sessions Court (CCH-57).

The courtroom witnessed high drama as all 17 accused were brought under tight security. With numerous advocates and members of the public present, the judge had to request those not involved in the case to leave to ensure smooth proceedings. Afterward, each accused signed charge documents before being returned to Parappana Agrahara Central Prison Complex.
Background of the Case

Renukaswamy's body was found mutilated near a stormwater drain on June 9, 2024. The following day, four individuals confessed at a police station but their interrogation led authorities to Darshan and Pavithra Gowda. A supplementary charge sheet later detailed each accused's alleged role in the crime.

Pavithra Gowda is listed as Accused No. 1 while Darshan is Accused No. 2 in this case. Their involvement along with others has been meticulously documented by law enforcement agencies as part of their investigation into this gruesome incident.