Chargesheet filed against Darshan and other accused in Renukaswamy murder case

Bengaluru Police on Wednesday filed charges against 17 accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, including Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa. The case has been investigated from all angles, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda told reporters here.

The 3,991-page chargesheet, containing 231 witness statements, was submitted to the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Darshan, his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 other accused are currently in custody in various prisons across the state.

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 post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple blunt injuries. Police sources said 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.