Renukaswamy case: Darshan, Pavithra Gowda and 15 others charged with kidnapping, murder; accused plead ‘not guilty’

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his alleged girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, along with 15 others, have been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and kidnapping in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Darshan pleads not guilty. (Photo: Darshan/Instagram)

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his alleged girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others have been formally charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful assembly in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. The charges were filed by Bengaluru’s 64th Sessions Court on Monday. All 17 accused have pleaded not guilty. The court has adjourned the hearing, with the trial scheduled to commence on November 10. Among the 17 accused, Pavithra Gowda has been identified as the prime conspirator in the case.

During Monday’s proceedings, the accused persons claimed that the charges against them were false. The courtroom was reportedly overcrowded, leading Judge IP Naik to express frustration. According to India Today, he remarked, “How can charges be framed with so many people here?” before instructing unrelated lawyers to leave the courtroom.

According to the chargesheet, Pavithra Gowda allegedly assaulted the victim, Renukaswamy, with a slipper, while Darshan reportedly removed the victim’s clothes and attacked his private parts, resulting in his death.

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The court also noted that some of the accused were allegedly offered money to take responsibility for the crime falsely.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, all 17 accused maintained their innocence. Following the hearing, Darshan, Pavithra, and seven others were taken back to jail.

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Earlier, Darshan had complained that his life in prison had become “unbearable,” claiming that he had developed fungal infections on his hands.

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“I can’t live like this anymore. Please, just give me poison. Life here has become unbearable,” he reportedly said, adding, “I cannot survive in jail under these conditions. Please give poison at least to me. I don’t want to continue like this.”

Renukaswamy murder case

On June 9, 2024, Renukaswamy (33), a fan of Darshan, was found dead near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru. Two days later, Darshan was arrested in connection with the murder.

According to reports, Renukaswamy had allegedly sent inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda, which is believed to have triggered the violent incident. Pavithra was arrested on the same day as Darshan.

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