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7 Bengaluru prison officials suspended for ‘special treatment’ of actor Darshan in prison

News from Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has suspended seven officials of the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru after a photo and video went viral online showing Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa apparently receiving special treatment during his detention. The action came a day after a purported photo of Darshan smoking a cigarette inside the prison premises went viral on social media.

“Last night our officials went and enquired. Seven officials were suspended. This is a failure. This must not be repeated. We also bear some responsibility,” said Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara.

Darshan is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. A controversy erupted on Sunday after a purported photograph of the Kannada actor hanging out with three others went viral. In the picture, Darshan was seen in a relaxed mood, sitting on a chair, holding a cigarette and a coffee cup, in an open room.

According to some reports, sitting next to Darshan are violent bedsheet layer Wilson Garden Naga and other inmates Nagaraj (the actor's manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena.

Later, another alleged video also surfaced online in which Darshan is seen talking to a person through a video call. There is no official confirmation yet whether the alleged photo and video are from the prison or any other location in the past or whether it is doctored footage.

A total of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are currently in judicial custody in connection with Renukaswamy's murder. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda had recently said that the police would submit the final report in the murder case to the court at the earliest after receiving the remaining forensic reports.

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.

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