Renukaswamy Murder Case: Chargesheet submitted in court names actor Kannada actor Darshan as accused

BENGALURU: In a significant development in the Renukaswamy murder case, the charge sheet submitted to the court by investigators has revealed shocking details about the involvement of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his close friend Pavitra Gowda, and several accomplices in the brutal killing. The charge sheet uncovers a dark series of events leading to the murder, beginning with the alleged sending of obscene messages and nude photos by Renukaswamy to Pavitra Gowda from his Instagram account.

According to the charge sheet, Pavitra Gowda had travelled to Dubai in February, during which time Renukaswamy sent her inappropriate messages. Initially, she ignored them, but by June 5, after receiving more obscene content, she informed her manager, K Pawan, of the situation. Pawan, acting on her behalf, managed to obtain Renukaswamy’s mobile number, which was later shared with Darshan. This is where the chilling sequence of events began to unfold.

Darshan contacted his associate Raghavendra from Chitradurga and ordered him to bring Renukaswamy to a location in Pattagere. On  June 8  the night of the crime, Darshan was at a party at Stony Brook restaurant in Rajarajeshwari Nagar with its owner, Vinay, and actor Chikkanna. After receiving a call from Pawan confirming that Renukaswamy had been brought to the shed in Pattagere, Darshan, along with Pavitra, rushed to the location.

The charge sheet paints a gruesome picture of what happened next. Pavitra, enraged upon seeing Renukaswamy, slapped him with her  slipper  and shouted, “He doesn’t deserve to live. Kill him.” This set off a brutal assault, during which Darshan, Pavitra, and 13 others attacked Renukaswamy. The investigators revealed that the accused forced Renukaswamy to apologize and recorded the incident on video before escalating the violence.

Among the horrific details included in the charge sheet, it is noted that one of the accused, Dhanraj, used a megger device to administer electric shocks to Renukaswamy, while others kicked him and struck him with a bat. The   post-mortem report indicated that the fatal injuries resulted from the severe beating. Investigators emphasized that the evidence was damning, with traces of blood found on the clothes worn by Darshan, Pavitra, and other accused individuals at the crime scene.

The charge sheet also includes disturbing images of Renukaswamy begging for his life, hands folded, before he was left in a near-comatose state. The investigators confirmed that after the assault, Darshan and his accomplices attempted to cover their tracks. They dumped Renukaswamy’s body near Raja canal   in front of the Sattva Anugraha Apartments in Sumanahalli. To further complicate matters, it is alleged that ₹5 lakh was paid to four individuals to falsely confess to the crime and surrender to the police. However, the police grew suspicious and began to uncover the true nature of the incident during questioning.

Eyewitness accounts played a crucial role in piecing together the events of that night. A security guard working at the Pattagere shed witnessed Darshan leaving the scene in a jeep, while another security guard and a food delivery boy spotted Renukaswamy’s body at the dumping site. Their testimonies have been included in the charge sheet.

The investigators utilised digital evidence, including CCTV footage and mobile phone locations, to track Darshan’s movements following the crime. According to the investigation, after the attack, Darshan traveled to Rajarajeshwari Nagar to change clothes before returning home to participate in a religious puja with his wife. Over the next few days, he visited a farmhouse in Mysore and later reappeared at a movie shooting location and gym. The mobile location data matches the CCTV footage, reinforcing the case against him.

Crucially, data retrieved from the mobile phones of the accused provided further damning evidence. Photos of the assault, including images of Renukaswamy’s last moments, were taken and circulated among Darshan’s close circle, including software engineer Pradush and restaurant owner Vinay. These images were deleted in an attempt to destroy evidence, but investigators were able to recover them through data recovery techniques.

The charge sheet, which includes forensic reports from the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory), confirms that the bloodstains on the clothing of Darshan, Pavitra, and others match the DNA of the victim. Additionally, the police confirmed that the accused used WhatsApp calls and messages to coordinate their actions both before and after the crime.

With the overwhelming evidence laid out in the charge sheet, including physical, digital, and forensic proof, the case against actor Darshan and his associates appears to be strong. Investigators have detailed the brutality of the murder, the premeditated nature of the assault, and the subsequent cover-up attempt. The involvement of high-profile individuals like Darshan has made this case one of the most talked-about legal battles in Karnataka, drawing widespread attention and condemnation.