The chilling details of Kannada actor Darshan's involvement in the murder of Renukaswamy, as revealed in the police chargesheet, paint a harrowing picture of violent retribution. The chargesheet documents Darshan's admission to not only orchestrating the kidnapping of Renukaswamy but also personally assaulting him. The brutal attack was allegedly sparked by Renukaswamy’s offensive messages and obscene photos sent to Darshan’s live-in partner, Pavithra Gowda. The sequence of events, as outlined in the chargesheet, unfolds like a grisly tale of escalating violence.
On June 8, Darshan was informed by Pavan, one of the accused and an employee at his and Pavithra’s house, that Renukaswamy had been kidnapped. By the time Darshan, Pavithra, and others arrived at the shed in Pattangere where the victim was being held, Renukaswamy had already suffered a physical assault at the hands of his captors. Darshan then proceeded to confront Renukaswamy about the messages he had sent. According to Darshan’s own admission, when Renukaswamy acknowledged sending the messages, the actor unleashed a violent attack, forcefully kicking him in the head, neck, and chest. He further used a tree branch to strike the victim multiple times, showing no mercy. In an attempt to publicly humiliate Renukaswamy, Darshan called Pavithra over to hit the victim with her slippers, forcing him to apologize by falling at her feet. This sadistic display was a culmination of Darshan’s rage over the obscene content that Renukaswamy had shared.
Pavithra's own statement to the police aligns with Darshan’s confession, in which she admits to beating Renukaswamy with her slippers while berating him for his messages, which included crude remarks and explicit images. As the chargesheet progresses, it becomes clear that Renukaswamy’s fate was sealed after this brutal encounter. The gang continued to torture him, with accusations that Nandish, another accomplice, strangled him, while Dhanraj electrocuted him, and Pavan delivered further assaults. Darshan, however, claimed in his statement that he left the shed before the fatal acts were carried out and was later informed of Renukaswamy’s death.
The gruesome nature of Renukaswamy’s injuries, as revealed in the post-mortem, underscores the savage brutality he endured. The autopsy detailed multiple severe bruises across his body, including a missing ear and ruptured testicles, confirming that he had been attacked with wooden clubs and subjected to sustained blunt force trauma. His body was found near the Sumanahalli flyover in Bengaluru the following day, with investigators concluding that he died from hemorrhage and shock due to the extensive injuries inflicted.
In a desperate bid to escape the consequences of his actions, Darshan allegedly handed over large sums of money to his associates, hoping they could use it to cover up the crime and bribe officials. However, the situation spiraled out of control when, on June 11, while Darshan was staying at a hotel in Mysuru for a film shoot, the police tracked him down and arrested him. Despite attempts to evade justice, the case against Darshan is bolstered by his own admissions and the damning evidence collected by investigators.
The murder of Renukaswamy has shaken both the film industry and the public, as an actor of Darshan's stature finds himself embroiled in such a heinous crime. The charges he now faces, including murder, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy, carry grave consequences. The case has also raised questions about the abuse of power and influence within the entertainment industry, as Darshan and his co-accused await trial.
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