Renukaswamy murder-accused Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa is being questioned in the cases registered regarding him receiving "VIP treatment" at the Parappana Agrahara Central jail. Dr. Chandragupta, chief of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru City Police reached the Ballari prison on Monday to take the probe forward, reports said.
Darshan was transferred to the Ballari facility after evidence of the actor getting special treatment at the Parappana Agrahara Central jail leaked online in August. He was found smoking on the prison lawn while enjoying beverages, photographs that went viral on the internet showed. The media also received evidence of Darshan Thoogudeepa using a gadget to video call one of his aides while jailed. As pressure built from different quarters, Karnataka's Congress government decided to transfer the 47-year-old actor to Ballari.
FIRs against Darshan and aides after public outcry
Three separate cases are being probed by the police in connection with the photos and videos leaked from the prison. Bengaluru City Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjunath Babu is in charge of the first case probing the jail officials who made life scot-free for the actor. While the jail superintendent was transferred, seven officials were suspended.
The second case probes how Darshan managed to make video calls while being in prison. Along with Darshan, two of hos accomplices identified as Sathya and Dharma are investigated for illegally smuggling mobile phone into the jail premises, Times Now said in a report.
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The third case investigates how Darshan received cigarettes and beverages inside the prison. The FIR names one Nagaraj, Wilson and Kullu Seena alongside Darshan, the report adds.
Renukaswamy murder case: The story so far
Earlier this week, the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to submit Darshan’s medical records while hearing his bail plea in the Renukaswamy murder case.
Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old autorickshaw driver was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the henchmen of Darshan. A fan of the actor, Renukaswamy, sent obscene messages to his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda for her role in allegedly derailing the actor's family. A furious Gowda wanted Darshan to react, and upon his order, the actor's henchmen identified and abducted Renukaswamy. According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
Darshan Thoogudeepa reportedly confessed to the police that he assaulted Renukaswamy before asking Pavithra Gowda to beat him with her footwear. According to the Kannada actor, Renukaswamy seemed beaten and tired when he arrived at the scene with Gowda. However, he further thrashed him. A total of 17 people were arrested in connection with the case including Darshan and Pavithra Gowda.