The Karnataka High Court has granted interim bail for six weeks to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is currently incarcerated as a suspect in the murder of Renukaswamy. The bail, approved by Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty, was requested to allow Thoogudeepa to undergo surgery due to health complications.
During the court proceedings, the actor’s lawyer, senior advocate C.V. Nagesh, presented arguments highlighting Thoogudeepa’s condition, which includes numbness in both feet. The application for bail was made to facilitate the surgery at a private hospital in Mysuru, with Thoogudeepa agreeing to cover all expenses.
In response to the request, the state prosecutor, P. Prasanna Kumar, argued against the bail, citing insufficient details in the medical reports regarding the length of hospitalization required. Kumar also suggested that the surgery could be performed at a government hospital, arguing that it is more appropriate given the circumstances.
The court acknowledged previous Supreme Court rulings that indicate the state does not have the right to dictate where an undertrial can receive medical treatment. However, Justice Shetty raised concerns about why the surgery needed to take place in Mysuru rather than having a doctor in Bengaluru assess the situation. “Interim bail is time-limited, and we need to understand how long you would be hospitalized,” he stated.
Nagesh maintained his request for the operation to proceed in Mysuru, while the prosecutor proposed a medical evaluation by a state-appointed board to assess Thoogudeepa’s health and urgency for surgery.
Thoogudeepa’s bail application had previously been denied by a sessions court, prompting him to escalate the matter to the high court.
Background of the Renukaswamy Murder Case
The murder case revolves around 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of Thoogudeepa, who allegedly sent inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda, a co-accused in the case. This situation reportedly provoked Thoogudeepa, leading to Renukaswamy’s brutal murder.
Renukaswamy’s body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Sumanahalli on June 9. It is alleged that Raghavendra, another accused who is associated with Thoogudeepa’s fan club, lured Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar under the pretense of a meeting with the actor. It was in this location that he was reportedly tortured and killed.
According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy died from shock and hemorrhage due to multiple blunt force injuries. Police investigations have implicated Pavithra Gowda as a key instigator in the murder, asserting that she conspired with others to carry out the crime.
As the investigation continues, the high court’s decision on Thoogudeepa’s bail provides a critical juncture in this high-profile case, drawing significant attention from the public and media alike.
Sources By Agencies
