Bengaluru, Sep 1 (IANS) Kannada actor Darshan, who is currently in jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, has approached the Karnataka High Court challenging a trial court’s decision to allow accused No. 14, Pradosh, to turn approver in the case.

Darshan has filed an appeal petition questioning the decision to grant Pradosh approver status. Pradosh has been named as the respondent in the petition. The Karnataka High Court is expected to take up Darshan’s petition on Tuesday (Sep 1).

In his plea, Darshan has also questioned the technical grounds and the procedure followed by the court in considering Pradosh’s request to become an approver. He has sought a stay on the trial court’s decision.

The trial court has already issued summons to Pradosh for recording his statement as a witness after allowing him to turn approver in the case.

Darshan has challenged the decision, arguing that the order allowing Pradosh to become an approver requires scrutiny on legal and procedural grounds.

Pradosh is among the accused in the case relating to the killing of Renukaswamy, whose body was found in Bengaluru in June 2024. Darshan and several others have been accused in the case, which is being investigated by the police.

The 59th City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru has officially accepted Pradosh’s petition to turn approver and granted him conditional pardon on August 25.

The Karnataka High Court and the trial court both ruled that Darshan and other co-accused have no legal right to participate in or oppose pardon proceedings, noting that a co-accused’s right only arises during cross-examination once testimony is recorded.

Pradosh’s expected full disclosure and insider testimony regarding the sequence of events, disposal of evidence, and alleged roles of co-accused deliver a major strategic boost to the prosecution in the fan murder case.

The high-profile case centres on the June 2024 abduction, torture, and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy from Chitradurga, whose body was found near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru after he allegedly sent offensive messages to Pavithra Gowda.

–IANS

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