Actor Darshan gets a 32-inch TV in his prison cell in Ganesh Chaturthi

Ballari, September 7 (IANS): Prison authorities have provided a television to imprisoned Kannada superstar Darshan on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda and 15 others are facing charges for kidnapping and murdering his fan Renukaswamy.

According to sources, the prison authorities allowed the installation of a 32-inch television in Darshan's cell early on Saturday. Darshan had requested a television from the prison authorities last week as he wanted to stay updated with any news regarding the filing of the chargesheet in his case and was “curious” to know what was happening in the outside world.

Sources said that as per prison policy, there is a requirement to provide a television and the delay occurred because the television had to be repaired. The prison authorities had earlier granted Darshan's request for a surgical chair as he was unable to use the Indian toilet in his cell. Darshan had also asked for permission to make phone calls, which was allowed.

They said that Rs 35,000 was deposited in the prisoner's personal account and he spent Rs 735 on tea and coffee from the prison canteen. The sources revealed that Darshan was under pressure after the chargesheet was filed against him and was worried about the consequences.

Meanwhile, the chargesheet reveals the cruelty that Darshan inflicted on Renukaswamy during his captivity. It mentions that Darshan and the other accused forced Renukaswamy to eat non-vegetarian food despite knowing that he was a vegetarian. When Renukaswamy spat out the biryani, Darshan kicked him and abused him for spitting out the food.

Darshan reportedly kicked him repeatedly even though Renukaswamy was bleeding and badly injured. Later, Darshan travelled to Mysuru wearing the same shoes, which had traces of Renukaswamy's blood. However, when police arrested Darshan the next morning, he was wearing a different pair of shoes. The hotel staff had packed his blood-stained shoes and other belongings and sent them to Darshan's wife Vijayalaxmi's residence in Bengaluru.

The police later seized all the items belonging to Darshan from Vijayalaxmi's residence. According to sources, the blood stain on Darshan's shoes is one of the crucial pieces of evidence in the case to prove his involvement in the murder.