Pramesh S Jain & Dr.Thomas (Sub-Editor)
After more than seven hours of intense questioning the Kamakshipalya police produced Kannada Film Star Darshan, Actress Pavithra Gowda and 11 others to Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court and taken them into 6 days police custody for further investigation.
The accused has been identified as,Darshan thoogudeepa,Pavitra Gowda,and their gang as,Pavan,Vinay,Pradosh,Nandeesha,Deepak ,Lakshman,Nagaraju,Karthik,Nikhil,Keshavmurthy and Raghavendra
Senior officer told reporters,A team of police led by DCP West Girish S,picked up Darshan from a star hotel in Mysuru where he was working out at the gym.
He was brought to the city in a police vehicle and grilled for several hours before he was taken to Bowring hospital for medical examination.
Darshan along with 12 of his associates have been accused of kidnapping 33-year-old Renukaswamy from Chitradurga,brought to the Pattanagere plot owned by Vinay’s uncle Jayanna and tortured to death before his body was carried and dumped in a storm water drain in Kamakshipalya on June 8.
A food delivery boy on next day noticed the dead body floating and stray dogs surrounding it,alerted the police .
The police rushed to the spot and found the body had multiple injuries and concluded that it was a case of murder.
The police based on the evidence identified the deceased Renukaswamy,resident of Lakshmi Venkateshwara layout in Chitradurga and working in a medical store commented on Pavitra gowda’s social media account accusing her of creating a rift between his favourite film star and wife .
Renukaswamy allegedly used indecent comments which miffed Pavithra Gowda .
She allegedly sought the help of accused to teach him as lesson. As per the plan,the accused roped in Raghavendra,darshan fans association president in Chitradurga to trace Renukaswamy .
As per the plan Raghavendra traced Renukaswamy and handed over to the accused .
The accused who were drunk took him to the five acre plot belonging to the uncle of the accused,which was rented out to a private company to park seized vehicles.
The accused allegedly tortured and beat Renukaswamy to death,while he maintained that he is also a fan of Darshan and upset that Pavithra Gowda is spoiling Darshan’s married life .
The police suspect that Darshan had visited the plot and questioned Renukaswamy about the post and allegedly assaulted him.However in the custody Darshan maintained that he was nothing to do with the incident.
During the initial stage of investigation,four of the accused appeared before the police and confessed that they murdered Renukaswamy due to financial row .
This to a futile attempt made to save Darshan,However a detailed probe by the police revealed the bigger plot .
A FSL team visited the scene of crime and gathered all evidence to corroborate the evidence.
The police have recovered CCTV footage,call record details from the shed,while recovered the goods vehicle and a SUV used by the accused to transport the body.
As the news of Darshan arrest spread,hundreds of his fans and curious onlookers gathered outside the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station to have a glimpse of Darshan and Pavithra Gowda who were being questioned by the police .
The fans raised slogans in support of their favourite actor,the police had to provide security cover to ensure law and order problem.
Soon after Darshan arrest Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was briefed by Director General and Inspector General of Police about the arrest at the routine briefing .
Darshan In 2011 was arrested after his wife filed a complaint for domestic violence.Darshan along with other actors booked under the Excise and Karnataka Police Act by the Subramanyanagar police station for partying in a bar beyond permissible time and caused inconvenience
to the residents on 3 January 3 .
