Photo of jailed actor Darshan accused of murder emerges and sparks debate

Bengaluru: A purported photo of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently in judicial custody in the Renukaswamy murder case, hanging out with three others has gone viral.

In the picture, Darshan, who is currently imprisoned in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, is seen in a relaxed mood sitting on a chair with a cigarette and a coffee cup in his hand, in an open room.

According to some reports, sitting next to Darshan are violent bedsheet layer Wilson Garden Naga and other inmates Nagaraj (the actor's manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena.

Also, an alleged video has surfaced in which Darshan is talking to a person via video call.

There is no official confirmation yet as to whether the alleged photos and videos are from prison or from the past or whether they are manipulated material.

Meanwhile, Kashinath S Shivanagowdru, father of the late Renukaswamy, reacted to the picture and demanded an investigation and punishment of those responsible. “In such things, there is a feeling that a CBI investigation should be held.”

“When I look at the picture, I am surprised to see him (Darshan) with others, holding a cigarette and drinking tea. We have doubts whether he is in jail or not. The jail should be a jail and not become something else. He should be treated like other normal prisoners, but here it looks like he is sitting in a recreational area,” he told reporters in the district capital Chitradurga.

Stating that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and police officials had promised him justice, he said, “The culprits should be punished and through this, my son's soul should find peace. I know the pain of losing my son… we are deeply saddened and he (Darshan) seems to be enjoying being there in jail… We still have faith in the police and the government.”

The opposition BJP asked the Home Minister to make it clear to the people whether the Parappana Agrahara prison was a “prison or a palace”.

Party leader and MLC N Ravi Kumar said in a statement that it was highly objectionable that the prison authorities and police had offered Darshan a “luxurious (stay) and royal hospitality” in the prison.

“This is the culmination of Congress's mismanagement… This underscores the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The Home Ministry has completely failed,” he said, urging the government to immediately investigate the matter and take action against the guilty officials and staff so that such incidents do not occur in the jail in future.

A total of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are currently in custody in connection with Renukaswamy's murder.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda had recently stated that the police would submit the final report in the murder case to the court after receiving the remaining forensic reports.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which infuriated Darshan and allegedly led to the fan's murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain adjacent to a flat in Sumanahalli on June 9.

Raghavendra, one of the accused, who is a member of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had taken Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.

According to the autopsy report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple blunt injuries.

According to police sources, Gowda, who is considered the main accused, was the “main cause” of Renukaswamy's murder. The investigation proved that she instigated the other accused, conspired with them and participated in the crime herself.