New Delhi: Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his partner and actor Pavithra Gowda were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, a man who made derogatory comments against Gowda. They were produced before a Bengaluru Magistrate court, which remanded them to six-day police custody until June 17.
Here is a timeline of the case so far:
June 8: A 33-year-old pharmacist Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, allegedly sent inappropriate messages to Pavithra on her official Instagram account. This happened after Pavithra revealed her decade-old relationship with the actor. Despite being married to Vijayalakshmi since 2003, Darshan was in a relationship with Pavitra.
As per a PTI report, which quoted police sources, it was at Pavithra's instigation that Darshan hatched a plan to punish Renukaswamy. Darshan then engaged the Chitradurga unit of Darshan Fan Club Convenor Raghavendra alias Raghu who found out all about Renukaswamy.
PTI also quoted Renukaswamy's wife Sahana who said that Raghu picked up her husband on Friday night from near their house.
The victim was then abducted and taken to a shed in the Kamakshipalya area in Bengaluru where he was beaten up with a belt by Darshan. After he was unconscious, he was also thrashed with sticks.
PTI also quoted police sources as saying, "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," adding that there were multiple fractures on Renukaswamy's body.
June 9: The police were alerted after a food delivery boy noticed dogs eating a human body. The police then registered a murder case after noticing injury marks on Renukawamy's body.
June 10: While the investigation was going on, two men turned up at Kamakshipalya police station to claim that they killed Renukaswamy at a shed near RR Nagar over a financial dispute. As the investigation continued, police found call records and the alleged connection of Darshan and Pavithra to the case. They also found out that it was Darshan who ordered that Renukaswamy be brought to Bengaluru.
June 11: Darshan and Pavithra Gowda and 11 others were arrested in connection to Renukaswamy's murder on Tuesday. Darshan was picked up from a hotel in Mysuru. He was brought to the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station for questioning. The police had to place barricades from entering the police station in Bengaluru to hold back fans who were calling for Darshan's release.
Renukaswamy's parents were inconsolable after finding out about the death of their son. "He was my only son. Last year he got married. I spoke to him on Saturday only. I want justice," his father Srinivasaiah told reporters at Kamakshipalya police station.
The 47-year-old Darshan who has been a part of several commercial entertainers including 'Gaja', 'Bulbul', 'Yajamana' and more is the prime accused in the case along with Pavithra and 11 others who were produced before court, where a judge remanded them to police custody until June 17.
June 12: As per reports, the Bengaluru police seized cars used in the murder, including a Jeep belonging to Darshan.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that Darshan is being subjected to an inquiry by the police and that the latter has been given a free hand in the case against Darshan, as per TV9 Kannada.