The Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, and five other individuals from Karnataka high court, in the murder case of Renukaswamy. A bench consisting of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan set aside the order of the Karnataka high court, stating that it was flawed and had a number of infirmities. “The High Court order is illustrative of a mechanical exercise of discretion. Bail will affect the trial, and witnesses may be swayed,” the apex court said.
Here’s What The Apex Court Stated:
1. It said the High Court order was greatly flawed and demonstrated little more than a mechanical exercise.
2. The Karnataka High Court acted in a pre-trial exercise which the Supreme Court saw as wrong.
3. The Supreme Court said the proper court to consider the matter was the trial court.
4. The Supreme Court found credible allegations and forensic evidence, justifying the cancellation of the bail.
5. The Supreme Court reminded respondents not to give any special privileges while being in jail; and that if the accused is given “5-star” treatment, the superintendent and relevant officials will be suspended.
6. The High Court order is a mechanical exercise and granting bail may prejudice the trial and has the potential to influence witnesses.
The verdict stems from an appeal by the Karnataka government against the state high court’s order of bail on December 13, 2024, to Darshan and the co-accused. Darshan, actress Pavithra Gowda, and others have been accused of kidnapping and torturing 33-year-old Renukaswamy who was a fan and had allegedly sent obscene messages to Gowda.
According to police, the victim was confined in a shed in Bengaluru for three days in June 2024 and tortured before eventually vanishing and was later found dead, with the body recovered from a drain. On January 24, the supreme court issued notices to the actor, Gowda, and others after the Karnataka government filed a petition.
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