Renukaswamy Tortured in Front of Pavithra Gowda? New Twist Emerges in Darshan Case

Bengaluru: As new revelations continue to emerge in the Renukaswamy murder case involving Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his aides, reports have claimed that actor Pavithra Gowda was allegedly present at the scene while the victim was being brutally tortured. For the unversed, Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, was abducted and brutally killed by a gang allegedly at the actor's behest, after he purportedly sent offensive messages on social media to Pavithra Gowda, rumoured to be Darshan's partner. The 33-year-old auto driver's body was found near a Bengaluru flyover on June 9th.

A couple of days back, Republic TV accessed crime scene photos which revealed multiple bruises on Renukaswamy's body, along with a missing ear and ruptured testicles.  “From the spot of the crime, things such as lathi and wooden logs used for the alleged assault have been recovered along with water bottle, blood stains and material evidence, and DVR containing the CCTV footage,” an official said, adding, “blood stains were also found on the vehicle allegedly used for disposing of the body.”

According to the autopsy report, Renukaswamy’s death was caused due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries he sustained. “Viscera samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for further analysis,” he added.   

Links Between Darshan and Congress MLA Uday Gowda

Meanwhile, a link between Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's and Karnataka’s Congress MLA Uday Gowda has come to the fore. This came to light after Darshan's gang has been implicated in a violent attack against a police constable. The incident allegedly took place at the residence of Maddur MLA Gowda.

According to reports, DAR constable Nagesh was assaulted by Darshan's aides when the actor was campaigning for Mandya Lok Sabha Congress candidate Star Chandru on April 23. The campaign event in Maddur turned chaotic when Darshan's gang clashed with gunman Nagesh over issues related to approaching leaders in the crowd.

Witnesses claim that Lakshman, Nagaraju and other members of Darshan's gang instigated the altercation. The conflict escalated, leading to Nagesh being attacked in front of Uday Gowda's house in Kadalur. During the assault, Darshan's aides allegedly boasted that the police could not take action against them.

Constable Nagesh proceeded to the Kestur police station to file a complaint, but no case was registered. Following the attack, Nagesh received medical attention at the taluk hospital in Maddur, where an MLC (Medico-Legal Case) was conducted.

It is further alleged that the Congress MLA intervened to compromise the issue, raising concerns about potential political interference in the investigation. The police investigation is ongoing, with many calling for a thorough and unbiased probe into the incident.

'Darshan is not a murderer': MLA Gowda

Karnataka’s Congress MLA Gowda has come forward to defend actor Darshan following his arrest in connection with the Renukaswamy killing case. Speaking to the media, Gowda addressed several issues, including the accusations against Darshan.

"Darshan is not a murderer. Yes, he can be a bit grumpy and angry, but that doesn't make him a criminal," Gowda asserted while speaking to a leading English daily. He emphasized that while Darshan might occasionally speak harshly to fans and the media, this behavior does not warrant the severe accusations being made against him.

Highlighting his long-standing friendship with Darshan, the MLA stated, “Darshan has been my friend for many years. He is irritable and angry sometimes, but he's not a butcher who commits murder. I don't know if he acted in this manner or if those around him did something wrong.”

The MLA also dismissed allegations of an attack on his gunman as false and urged the public to be patient while the police investigation uncovers the truth. "Who told you all this? There is no such incident. Let's talk after the investigation is over," he added.

Gowda dismissed the claims as false. "I don't know if my gunman was attacked. It's all lies. I have five or six gunmen. Wouldn't I have known if one of them had been assaulted? Nothing happened. All that is just a false creation," he concluded.