The Supreme Court on Friday, January 24, issued notices to Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavithra Gowda, and five others in connection with the murder of 33-year-old pharmacist Renukaswamy. The notices come as the Karnataka government challenges the bail granted to the accused by the Karnataka High Court.
A Bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan directed the accused to file their responses within four weeks.
Before the hearing, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, “We have done our work. The police have submitted relevant documents and materials to the Supreme Court through the advocate. We will see what the verdict in the Supreme Court will be over the petition by the Karnataka Police and then contemplate future action.”
Actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his partner Pavithra Gowda are accused of orchestrating the murder of Renukaswamy, a pharmacist from Chitradurga. Renukaswamy’s body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru. Police allege that Renukaswamy had sent derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda, which led to the alleged conspiracy.
On December 13, the Karnataka High Court granted bail to Darshan, Pavithra, and five other co-accused. Justice S Vishwajith Shetty, presiding as a single-judge, noted that the prosecution had failed to provide specific grounds of arrest to the accused. Citing a Supreme Court precedent from the Prabir Purkayastha case, Justice Shetty emphasised the distinction between grounds and reasons for arrest.
In the Renukaswamy murder case, the High Court noted that the delayed provision of identical grounds of arrest to all accused did not fulfill the requirement of case-specific details essential for fair defense and bail applications.
The Karnataka government moved the Supreme Court challenging the bail order on January 6.
Darshan was released on interim medical bail earlier to undergo surgery before receiving regular bail.