Bengaluru, June 10 (IANS) Karnataka High Court on Wednesday refused to cancel the bail granted to five accused persons in the sensational fan murder case involving Kannada actor Darshan and his partner, actress Pavithra Gowda, and dismissed a petition filed by the prosecution seeking cancellation of their bail.

The bench, headed by Justice S. Rachaiah, passed the order granting relief to the accused, Pavan, Dhanaraju, Vinay, Raghavendra, and Nandish. The prosecution had approached the court seeking cancellation of the bail granted to them.

The prosecution argued that the accused were influential individuals and key accused in the case. It contended that if they remained out on bail, there was a possibility that they would influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. Concerns were also expressed about the potential destruction of evidence.

However, the High Court observed that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient and compelling grounds for the cancellation of bail. The court held that no strong reasons had been placed before it to justify revoking the bail granted to the accused.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had cancelled the bail of seven accused persons, including Darshan, in the case. Subsequently, the High Court granted bail to the five accused who were the subject of the present petition.

Accused Raghavendra was the President of the Chitradurga Darshan Fans’ Club, accused of bringing the victim to Bengaluru. Accused persons Pavan and Vinay are identified as key associates who allegedly aided in the kidnapping, logistical arrangements, and destruction of evidence.

Accused Nandish is alleged to have obtained an electrical testing device (a “megger”) to administer electric shocks to the victim Renukaswamy. He also faces charges of murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and assault.

Dhanaraju is charged with murder, kidnapping, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy. Police recovered the megger device used to torture Renukaswamy from Dhanaraju, who admitted to delivering the device to the crime scene and helping the other suspects administer the electric shocks.

Renukaswamy, 33, was a fan of Darshan, and it is alleged that he was kidnapped and murdered at Darshan’s behest, as he had been harassing Darshan’s female friend, Pavithra Gowda. Renukaswamy’s body was found near a flyover in Bengaluru on June 9, 2024.

The incident took place in Pattangere village in Bengaluru. It is alleged that Renukaswamy was beaten to death, and Darshan was informed of his death via WhatsApp.

The Supreme Court had earlier overturned the Karnataka High Court’s decision granting bail to Darshan and others. A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan had questioned the High Court’s order, remarking that it had passed a decision on bail as if it were deciding conviction or acquittal.

The bench questioned whether the High Court gives such orders in other cases as well and added that they will not “repeat such a mistake.” The Supreme Court also said that, in this case, there was a prima facie misuse of judicial power. Such an error by a lower court judge might still be acceptable, but it is not right for a High Court judge to make such a mistake, it said.

–IANS

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