Special treatment for actor accused of murder in prison? Viral image sparks controversy

Actor Darshan, in grey t-shirt, as seen in the viral picture.

Happy scenes are everywhere. A purported picture of popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is in custody in a murder case, hanging out with three others in broad daylight is going viral on the internet.

NDTV cannot independently verify the authenticity of the now viral image.

As the picture shows, the four men are sitting on plastic chairs in an open area around a piece of grass and appear to be looking into the distance.

Darshan, who is currently lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru, is seen holding a cup in his right hand and a cigarette in the other, and his gaze appears to be fixed on something in the distance.

To his right sit gangster Wilson Garden Naga and other inmates Nagaraj (Darshan's manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena. They seem to be looking at something and there is a hint of a smile on their faces.

In July, the Karnataka High Court, while hearing a petition filed by the Kannada actor, stressed that all citizens and prisoners are entitled to a nutritious diet without any discrimination based on their social or financial status.

Darshan had challenged a district court order rejecting his request for home-cooked food, bedding and cutlery in prison.

The picture raises doubts as to whether Darshan – who was arrested in June in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, who allegedly sent obscene text messages to his co-star – and his companions were given special facilities in prison.

Since the photo has been widely circulated, prison authorities have been asked to investigate the case.

Reacting to the picture, Kashinath S. Shivanagowdru, Renukaswamy's father, demanded a CBI investigation and punishment of those responsible.

“In such things, one feels that a CBI investigation should be held… When I look at the picture, I am surprised to see him (Darshan) with others, holding a cigarette and drinking tea. We have doubts whether he is in jail or not. The jail should be a jail and not become something else. He should be treated like other normal prisoners, but here it looks like he is sitting in a resort,” he told reporters in the district capital Chitradurga.

“I know how painful it is to lose my son… We are deeply saddened and he (Darshan) seems to enjoy being there in prison… We still have faith in the police and the government,” the father added.

A total of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are in custody in connection with Renukaswamy's murder.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which infuriated Darshan and allegedly led to the fan's murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain adjacent to a flat in Sumanahalli on June 9.