Supreme Court rejects Kannada actor Darshan's bail in Renukaswamy murder case, warns against VIP treatment in jail

In a major development in Renukaswamy murder case, the Supreme Court cancelled the bail previously granted to Kannada actor Darshan and several others accused in the brutal killing. The court ordered that all accused be taken back into custody, reversing a Karnataka High Court ruling that had allowed their release.

Supreme court cancels Darshan bail

The Supreme Court has reversed the Karnataka High Court’s earlier decision that had granted bail to actor Darshan. Instead, the top court has decided that he must remain in custody. The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, who found fault with the High Court’s approach in the case.


During the proceedings, the Supreme Court strongly criticised the High Court’s bail order, saying it appeared more like a final verdict than a temporary relief. The bench also raised concerns about whether the High Court follows a similar approach in other bail matters and stated that they would not “repeat such a mistake.”


The Supreme Court strongly emphasised that no VIP treatment would be tolerated, regardless of celebrity status. “All accused must be treated equally under the law,” the bench stated.

All you need to know about Renukaswamy Murder Case

For the unversed, Darshan, a well-known figure in the Kannada film industry, is accused of abduction and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, who had allegedly sent obscene messages to actress Pavithra Gowda. The victim was reportedly kidnapped, tortured over several days, and his body later dumped in a drain, details that have shocked the public. On June 9, 33-year-old auto driver Renukaswamy was found dead on a flyover in Bengaluru.

The incident reportedly happened in Pattangere village, Bengaluru, where Renukaswamy was allegedly beaten to death. Darshan is said to have been informed about the death through a WhatsApp message.

Others accused in the case include Pavithra Gowda, Anu Kumar, Lakshman M, V Vinay, Jagadeesh, Pradoosh S Rao, and Nagaraju R. All had been granted bail earlier, following the High Court’s decision, which the sessions court had initially denied due to the gravity of the charges.

On August 6, both Darshan and Pavithra Gowda urged the Supreme Court to allow their bail to continue. They submitted written arguments explaining why their bail should not be revoked.

Darshan, through his lawyer, argued that there is no direct evidence connecting him to the crime.