A Bengaluru court on Monday officially charged Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his aide Pavitra Gowda, and 15 others in the case of the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, the Chitradurga native. The defendants have been charged with murder, conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful assembly under several sections of the IPC.
According to the police charge sheet, Renukaswamy had allegedly sent provocative messages to Pavitra, which upset Darshan. Darshan and Pavitra “worked out” a plan to abduct Renukaswamy. He was abducted from Chitradurga and taken to a shed in Bengaluru, where he was beaten to death with slippers and wooden planks.
The prosecution argued that Pavitra struck Renukaswamy first, with Darshan joining him in beating him. The court stated there were allegations that some defendants had been given money to take responsibility for Renukaswamy’s death.
The case has rocked the Kannada film industry, which has branded the case “Operation Gold Fish” since charges were announced yesterday. The case began in June after Renukaswamy’s body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru. Charges have now been framed, and the trial should commence soon, with examination of witnesses proposed to begin at the next hearing.
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