After Viral Photo of VIP Treatment, Actor Darshan May be Transferred to Another Jail: Reports

New Delhi: A day after a purported photograph of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa receiving VIP treatment inside Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison went viral, reports indicate that jail authorities are considering transferring him (Darshan) to another facility.  In the picture, Darshan, currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, is seen in a relaxed mood, sitting on a chair, holding a cigarette and a coffee cup, in an open space. 

According to some reports, those seated with Darshan are rowdy sheeter Wilson Garden Naga and other inmates Nagaraj (the actor's manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena. Besides, a purported video of Darshan speaking to a person over a video call too has surfaced. There has been no official confirmation so far on whether the purported photo and video were from within the jail premises or elsewhere in the past or whether they are doctored material.

As the picture went viral, seven prison officials have been suspended. A Superintendent of the Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara has also been transferred following an inquiry. Meanwhile, reacting to the picture, the deceased Renukaswamy's father Kashinath S Shivanagowdru demanded a probe into it and punishment for those behind it. "With such things there is a feeling that a CBI probe should happen." "Looking at the picture I'm surprised to see him (Darshan) with others holding a cigarette and drinking tea. We get a doubt whether he is in jail or not. Jail should be a jail and should not become something else. He should be treated like other normal prisoners, but here it looks like he seems to be sitting in a resort," he told reporters in the district headquarters town of Chitradurga.

Stating that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and police officials had promised him justice, he said, "The guilty should be punished and thereby my son's soul should get peace. I know the pain of losing my son...we are deeply pained, and he (Darshan) seems to be enjoying being there, in jail... We still have faith in the police and the government." The opposition BJP has demanded that the Home department minister make it clear to the people whether Parappana Agrahara jail is a "prison or a palace".

Party leader and MLC N Ravi Kumar in a statement said, it is highly condemnable that the jail authorities and the police department have provided a "luxurious (stay) and royal hospitality" to Darshan at the prison. "This is the height of Congress's maladministration... This highlights the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The Home department has completely failed," he said, urging the government to investigate the matter immediately and take action against the guilty officers and staff, so that such incidents do not take place in the jail in future.

A total of 17 people, including Darshan along with his friend Pavithra Gowda, are currently in judicial custody in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy. 

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda had recently said the final report will be submitted to the court by the police in the murder case, at the earliest, after getting the remaining forensic reports.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to the fan's murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9. 

Raghavendra, one of the accused who is a part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar here, 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 post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.

Police sources said Gowda, who is accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamy’s murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated the other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime herself.