Victim’s family can expect ‘justice’, says home minister – ThePrint – PTIFeed

Bengaluru, Sep 3 (PTI) – The investigation in the Renukaswamy murder case, in which Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa is an accused, is almost complete and the police are ready to file the chargesheet in the court. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the family of the deceased victim can expect “justice”.

He said the police and the government would fight in court to ensure justice for the victim's family.

Asked if Darshan will be made accused number 1 (A1) in the case, he said, “Whether A1 or A2 is up to the police. They will do it based on the evidence.” Asked what the Renukaswamy family can expect from the government and the police, the minister said, “They can expect justice, we will get justice for them. We will fight for justice in the court.” As of now, Darshan is A2 in the case while his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda is A1.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda said the investigation into Renukaswamy's murder case had been completed and the final phase – the Special Public Prosecutor's examination – had also been completed.

“He (SPP) has made certain observations and we are abiding by them. Soon after, within a few days, we will submit the final report to the court,” he told reporters.

The commissioner said the police had collected enough necessary evidence in connection with the case and the details would be presented before the court.

“We have received all the reports from the FSL (Forensic Science Lab) in Bengaluru and supplementary answers to the questions have also come. A few reports have come from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad and a few more are coming, we will continue to investigate them,” he added.

Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda along with 15 other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case are currently in judicial custody in various jails across the state.

Last week, Darshan was shifted to a jail in Ballari after a photograph of him hanging out on the lawn outside Bengaluru jail with three others, including a rowdy, went viral on the internet on Sunday, sparking an uproar.

This was done after obtaining court approval. Most of the other co-defendants in the murder case were also transferred to various prisons across the state.

In the picture, the actor is seen in a relaxed mood, sitting on a chair and holding a cigarette and a coffee cup. A purported video of Darshan talking to a person through a video call from prison has also surfaced on social media.

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 his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain adjacent to a flat in Sumanahalli on June 9.

Raghavendra, one of the accused, who is a member of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had taken Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.

According to the autopsy report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple blunt injuries.

According to police sources, Pavithra, who is the main accused, was the “main cause” of Renukaswamy's murder. Investigations have proved that she instigated, conspired with other accused and participated in the crime. PTI KSU RS RS

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