Darshan and his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda have been arrested in the murder case. (File)
Chilling details have emerged from the murder investigations against popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa. The case involves the murder of Renukaswamy, who was found dead in a drain in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Darshan, known by his fans as 'Challenging Star', was arrested from his Mysuru farmhouse on Tuesday. His co-star and girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 11 of his aides have also been arrested.
Pavithra Gowda has been named the key accused in the case and Darshan the second accused.
Here are five chilling details from the murder probe:
- Renukaswamy, who lived in Chitradurga, had allegedly made lewd comments on Pavithra Gowda's social media posts, after which she instigated Darshan to punish him, news agency PTI reports citing police sources.
- Darshan hired Raghavendra alias Raghu, the convenor of his fan club in Chitradurga, to gather information about Renukaswamy, they said. The victim's wife also alleged it was Raghu who picked him up from near their house.
- The report said he was kidnapped and taken to a shed in Bengaluru's Kamakshipalya. Darshan allegedly thrashed Renukaswamy in that shed with a belt while his aides beat him with sticks until he fell unconscious. He was slammed against a wall and suffered multiple bone fractures all over his body, the PTI report added.
- The victim's body was allegedly dumped in a stormwater drain. Dogs were nibbling on his body when a food delivery executive noticed it and alerted the cops.
- Darshan and Pavithra Gowda are not cooperating and hiding facts, the Karnataka Police told the court in their remand application on Tuesday, news agency IANS reported citing sources. A hunt is also on for four other accused.
Reactions To Darshan's Arrest
Darshan's fans are in shock and disbelief after revelations that their favourite star could be involved in such a grisly crime. They have been gathering outside police stations where Darshan was being grilled, forcing the cops to lathicharge them.
The police have been given a free hand to take action against Darshan and other accused in accordance with the law, said the state's Home Minister G Parameshwara.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) President N M Suresh has talked about taking action against Darshan after a discussion with the artists' union, most likely after the cops file a charge-sheet in the case.