Renukaswamy Murder Case: Supreme Court cancelled bail to actor Darshan and 6 others

Renukaswamy Murder Case: On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of India canceled the bail granted to actor Darshan, actress Pavithra Gowda, and five other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, delivered the judgment on a plea filed by the Karnataka government challenging the Karnataka High Court’s decision to grant them bail on December 13, 2024.

The apex court had previously expressed serious concerns about the High Court’s order, stating that it appeared to be a “perverse exercise of judicial discretion” and that the order read more like a judgment of acquittal. The Supreme Court had questioned the High Court’s reasoning, particularly its doubts about the grounds of arrest and its disregard for critical forensic and circumstantial evidence.

The cancellation of bail means that Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and the other five accused will now be returned to judicial custody.

The Renukaswamy murder case is a high-profile criminal case involving Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his partner, actress Pavithra Gowda, along with over a dozen other individuals.

The case revolves around the murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan of Darshan from Chitradurga, Karnataka. Renukaswamy allegedly sent obscene messages and photos to Pavithra Gowda on social media.

According to police, this led to a conspiracy where Renukaswamy was abducted from Chitradurga and brought to a shed in Bengaluru. There, he was allegedly tortured and beaten to death by several of the accused. The police’s investigation and the chargesheet reveal that Renukaswamy sustained multiple injuries, including a broken chest bone, and was given electric shocks. His body was later dumped in a drain.

Darshan Thoogudeepa: Accused of being the main conspirator behind the abduction and murder. The police allege he was present during the assault and provided money to others to carry out the crime and to cover it up.

Pavithra Gowda: Allegedly the “root cause” of the incident. The chargesheet claims she instigated the violence after receiving the lewd messages and was also present at the crime scene, where she allegedly assaulted Renukaswamy with a slipper.

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