Actor Darshan Arrested In Murder Case: Domestic Abuse To Assault, Controversies Of The Kannada Actor
Darshan, who was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, is no stranger to controversies. His past is marked by numerous legal run-ins and contentious incidents.
Controversies Of Actor Darshan: Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his close friend and actress Pavithra Gowda were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, who allegedly made "derogatory" comments against Pavithra. Darshan and 12 others were remanded to six-day police custody after being produced before a Bengaluru Magistrate court.
Darshan and Pavithra's alleged involvement in the Renukaswamy murder
Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga district, had allegedly posted comments on social media accusing Gowda, of causing a rift between the 47-year-old actor and his wife. Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, allegedly used "indecent language" and posted offensive messages on Gowda's account.
"It was Pavithra who instigated Darshan to punish Renukaswamy. Accordingly, the plan was hatched. Darshan engaged the Chitradurga unit of Darshan Fan Club Convenor Raghavendra alias Raghu, who obtained all information about Renukaswamy,” PTI quoted its police sources as saying.
According to the PTI report, the victim was abducted and taken to a shed in the Kamakshipalya area in Bengaluru.
"Darshan beat up Renukaswamy with a belt. After he fell unconscious, his accomplices thrashed him with sticks. Further, they threw him against a wall, which proved fatal, as he suffered multiple bone fractures, after the killing, his body was dumped in a storm-water drain in Kamakshipalya area of the city,” the sources told PTI.
Darshan's controversies
Darshan, who made his debut as a lead actor in the movie 'Majestic' in 2002, has featured in several commercially successful films including 'Kariya', 'Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna', 'Kalasipalya', 'Gaja', 'Navagraha', 'Saarathi', 'Bulbul', 'Yajamana', 'Robert' and 'Kaatera'.
The actor is no stranger to controversies. His past is marked by numerous legal run-ins and contentious incidents.
In 2011, Darshan made headlines when an FIR was filed against him at the Vijayanagar police station for assaulting his wife, Vijayalakshmi. This led to him spending several days in police custody and also a stint in Bangalore Central Prison before being granted bail. The controversy reignited in 2016 when Vijayalakshmi approached the police again, alleging that Darshan had caused a disturbance outside her residence and attempted to forcibly enter her apartment.
Adding to his list of controversies, in 2021, journalist and filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh accused Darshan of assaulting a worker at an upscale hotel in Mysuru. According to Lankesh, the incident was hushed up with a payment of Rs 50,000 as compensation to the victim.
In January 2023, authorities from the forest department conducted a raid on Darshan's T. Narsipura farm located on the outskirts of Mysuru. This action followed the circulation of a social media video featuring the actor discussing the presence of four bar-headed geese on his farm. Officials highlighted that the endangered status of these birds afforded them protection under the Wildlife Protection Act.
In 2023, the actor faced severe criticism for a controversial remark about Goddess Lakshmi. During the promotion of his film 'Kranti', Darshan made a statement to the media, saying, "The Goddess of Luck doesn't always visit you. So, when she does, seize her, pull her, and confine her to your bedroom without giving her clothes." This remark stirred significant backlash for its offense to religious sentiments.
In October 2023, Darshan faced legal issues again when an FIR was registered against him and two others at the RR Nagar police station. The complaint was regarding an incident where Darshan allegedly allowed his dog to bite a woman near his residence in RR Nagar.
Most recently, on January 3, 2024, Darshan and the crew of his movie 'Kaatera' were summoned by the police for allegedly partying beyond permissible hours at Jetlag Bar and Grill in Bengaluru.
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