Fan murder case: Custody of Kannada superstar Darshan and other accused extended until September 12

Bengaluru, September 9 (IANS): A court in Bengaluru on Monday extended the remand of Kannada superstar Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda and the 15 other accused in the fan murder case until September 12.

Darshan was produced before the 24th Deputy Chief Metropolitan Magistrate from Ballary Jail, while his partner and main accused in the case, Pavithra Gowda, was produced via video conferencing from Bengaluru Central Jail.

The other 15 accused were also produced before the court from their respective prisons as their pretrial detention ended on Monday.

ACP, Vijayanagar, Chandan Kumar presented 60 new digital evidences against the accused before the court.

According to sources, Darshan will file a bail application after the chargesheet is filed in the case against him.

The Karnataka High Court is likely to hear Pavithra Gowda's bail plea on Monday after the trial court decides the case; the other accused, including Darshan, also plan to approach the court.

According to sources, Darshan is now seriously considering filing a petition in court to restrain media houses from broadcasting and publishing the details of the charge sheet in the fan murder case.

According to sources, Darshan was also trying to replace the upright Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar, who has a good track record of handling high-profile cases and did not succumb to any pressure, with some influential people supporting him. However, the Congress government had told the lobbyists that in the present circumstances, it was impossible to replace the Special Public Prosecutor as it would reflect on the government's reputation.

The government faced criticism when photographs emerged showing Darshan and his companions being treated luxuriously in Bengaluru Central Jail. Nine officials, including two jail guards, were suspended for the offence and Darshan and his companions were shifted to other district jails. Police investigations into the case have revealed that the jail staff had made arrangements for Darshan, sources said.

Meanwhile, two dogs, a Belgian Malinois and a French bull, were brought from Pavithra Gowda's residence to Darshan's residence in Bengaluru. The neighbours had approached an animal welfare group about the dogs kept in Pavithra Gowda's house where no one lived. The dogs are doing well at Darshan's residence, said Harish, a member of Prani Daya Sangha.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda and his accomplices are on trial in Bengaluru for the gruesome murder of Darshan's fan Renukaswamy on June 8. Renukaswamy was kidnapped from his hometown Chitradurga, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed and tortured to death. After his death, his body was thrown into a canal.

The incident came to light after security personnel at a private residence saw the body being dragged by a pack of dogs. Police had recently submitted a 3,991-page chargesheet against Darshan, his partner and 15 other accused to the court in the case.