Thu Jul 17 11:39:02 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Supreme Court Questions Bail Granted to Kannada Actor Darshan in Murder Case**
*New Delhi – July 17, 2025* – The Supreme Court of India today expressed serious reservations regarding the Karnataka High Court’s decision to grant bail to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan stated they were “not at all convinced” by the High Court’s rationale for granting bail.
Darshan, along with actress Pavithra Gowda and others, stands accused of abducting and torturing Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan, in June 2024. The victim allegedly sent obscene messages to Gowda, leading to his abduction and subsequent murder. His body was found in a drain in Bengaluru after allegedly being held captive and tortured for three days.
During the hearing, Justice Pardiwala questioned senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Darshan, asking him to provide “good reasons” why the Supreme Court should not intervene in the bail order. The bench specifically pointed to the High Court’s apparent eagerness to find ways to release the accused on bail.
The Supreme Court has instructed senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the state of Karnataka, to provide information on any prior criminal history of the accused at the next hearing, scheduled for July 22. The state government filed a plea challenging the High Court’s December 13, 2024, order granting bail to Darshan and the other co-accused.
Darshan was initially arrested on June 11, 2024, in connection with the murder and was briefly held at Parappana Agrahara Jail before being transferred to Ballari Central Jail after a photo of him relaxing with other inmates went viral. The state government filed its petition against the bail on January 6, 2025. While initially hesitant to immediately cancel the bail, the Supreme Court’s strong reservations signal a potential shift in the case, leaving Darshan’s freedom hanging in the balance.
First Piper 