Darshan (in the green suit) shooting for a movie in Thailand.
- Supreme Court criticises Karnataka High Court over wording of bail order for murder-accused actor Darshan
- Darshan, fellow actor Pavithra Gowda, and over a dozen others accused of torturing and murdering Renukaswamy
- They received bail from the High Court in December, but the state challenged that in the Supreme Court
The Karnataka High Court's grant of bail to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa - a key accused in the kidnap, torture, and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy in June last year - was criticised as an apparent "perverse exercise of judicial power" by the Supreme Court Thursday afternoon.
This is the second time in a week the Supreme Court has rebuked the High Court over the release of the actor. Last week the High Court was told it had failed to exercise discretion in granting bail.
This afternoon a bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan said they would not make the same mistake as the High Court. "We will not give any judgment for conviction or acquittal..." an irked top court told counsel for actor Pavithra Gowda, the primary accused.
"Don't you think the High Court declared an order of acquittal?" the Supreme Court asked, displeased over the language in the High Court's December 2024 bail order.
"The manner in which the High Court dictated the order... very sorry to say. Does the High Court dictate the same kind of order in other cases too?" Justice Pardiwala asked, "What is troubling is the reasoning given... especially saying 'grounds of arrest were not furnished' for a murder case."
"It is, prima facie, a perverse exercise of judicial power..." the Supreme Court said.
"A trial court judge making such a mistake is acceptable... but a high court judge!"
READ | Supreme Court's "Discretion" Remark After High Court Bail For Actor Darshan
The Supreme Court, clearly already unhappy, also had questions for the state after being told the trial would be held on a daily basis. Justice Pardiwala asked why this case merited such attention when other accused had been languishing in prison, waiting their chance, for years.
The top court was later informed the trial would be completed in six months.
Darshan Thoogudeepa and 13 others are in prison charged with the murder of Renukaswamy, who was allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by the actor's accomplices after he apparently sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, a friend of Darshan.
Renukaswamy's body was found in stormwater drain on June 9.
The police believe Darshan paid Rs 50 lakh to four men involved in the planning and execution of the gruesome crime, including arranging for Renukaswamy to be brought to Bengaluru.
This, the cops have said, includes Rs 30 lakh to a man called Pradosh (alias Pawan) to handle all aspects of the abduction and murder, as well as disposal of the body. Two others - Nikhil and Keshavamurthy were given Rs 5 lakh each for their roles in the murder and dumping the body.
READ | Actor Darshan Asked 3 To Take Blame For Murder, Paid 15 Lakh
And Rs 5 lakh was to be paid to the families of two men - Raghavendra and Karthik - for submitting false confessions and going to prison in place of Darshan and Pavithra Gowda.
In April there was public fury after the actor - told to attend every court hearing as part of his bail conditions - skipped an appearance citing back pain and then, hours later, was at a movie screening.
READ | Actor Darshan Skips Trial Over 'Back Pain' But At Event Hours Later
And last year there was a massive row after photos from inside a jail housing Darshan showed him and other accused lounging and smoking in lawn chairs in a small garden.
READ | Jailed Actor Darshan's Tea Party, Video Call Viral, Victim's Father Weeps
The actor was then transferred to another facility.
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