Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, on Friday, refuted reports that "royal treatment" was given to popular Kannada Darshan Thoogudeepa at the police station where the actor and his associates have been held after their arrest in connection with a murder.
The minister said Darshan is being offered the same treatment that any other accused would get and added that the actor is neither served biryani nor given special facilities.
"I will instruct the police to take necessary measures in the interest of the public, but we should also let them investigate freely. It is not possible for police to give biryani and royal treatment to the accused. It is not done and it should not be done."
ALSO READ: Darshan is 'soft-spoken gentleman' who respects women: Actor Sanjjanaa Galrani defends Kannada star
The minister was responding to a question on reports of police causing inconvenience to the public near Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station, where Darshan is held, by restricting movement of people nearby by blocking roads, and not allowing even school vans and ambulances to pass by.
"On hearing such (complaints) from you (media), I inquired. They (police) said, no such facilities are being given and it will not be done. How other accused are treated, he (Darshan) is also treated in the same way. There is no mercy....They (police) should be given free hand. I have also inquired with the (Bengaluru Police) Commissioner," news agency PTI quoted the minister as saying.
No pressure on government, says D.K. Shivakumar
Echoing similar sentiments, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar denied reports that said the government is under pressure from "influential people" to favour Darshan. "There is no pressure from anyone.....neither our home minister or anyone else is involved (interfering) in it (investigation), we are not recommending anything, we don't know anything," Shivakumar said.
Regarding allegations that "royal treatment" was being given to Darshan at the police station where he is held and pandals were erected there to maintain "secrecy", Shivakumar said, "I inquired with the police. There are 13 accused there (at the police station), as you (media) stand with your cameras there from morning till evening, they (police) need an opportunity to work freely, so they have put (erected a pandal) there."
Darshan and his aides were arrested on Tuesday for the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. The deceased had posted derogatory social media remarks against actor Pavithra Gowda, a friend of Darshan.
Driver who took the victim to Bengaluru surrenders
Even as the investigation into the murder continues, a person, who allegedly took Renukaswamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru surrendered before the police.
The driver, identified as Ravi, surrendered at the deputy superintendent of police's office in Chitradurga on Thursday.
