Jailed actor Darshan complains of cold, demands blanket; court directs prison in fan murder case

Bengaluru: Kannada superstar Darshan Thoogudeepa, jailed in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, pleaded for an additional blanket before the trial court on Wednesday, citing difficulty sleeping due to the cold.

Darshan appeared via video conference before the CCH-57 court in Bengaluru, where he informed judges that prison officials were denying him a blanket, including one sent by his family. The court expressed displeasure over the prison authorities’ refusal and directed them to provide the blanket immediately.

Another accused, Nagaraj, also said prisoners were not being provided blankets despite the cold, a claim supported by Darshan.

The case pertains to the brutal murder of Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, who was kidnapped from Chitradurga, tortured, and killed in Bengaluru in June 2024. The 3,991-page chargesheet submitted by police reveals that Renukaswamy had requested Darshan’s partner, Pavithra Gowda, for a secret live-in relationship.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others were arrested on kidnapping and murder charges in June 2024. Following controversy over alleged VIP treatment for Darshan in Bengaluru Central Prison, he was transferred to Ballari jail. He faces three FIRs related to the case, and the Supreme Court recently cancelled the bail granted to him and others.

The trial court has begun marking undisputed documentary evidence as part of efforts to expedite the proceedings, with witness examinations expected to follow once evidence is finalised.

With inputs from IANS