A couple of photos of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old auto driver and a fan of Kannada actor Darshan, surfaced just moments before his death in June, allegedly at the behest of Darshan Thoogudeepa and his associates. The photos capture Renukaswamy in his final moments, reportedly showed the immense fear and desperation he experienced.
In one of the pictures, Renukaswamy is seen looking directly at the camera, his expression a mix of terror and pleading for his life, as reported by India Today. The second photo shows him lying on the ground after being attacked by a gang, still alive but grievously injured. The release of these images has left his family in deep anguish.
Renukaswamy's father, Kashinath, expressed his sorrow, stating, "No one should have to see their son like this. Even after he apologized, they didn’t show mercy. If only they had shown a little kindness, he would be with us today." His mother, Ratnaprabha, shared her pain with a local media channel, saying, "I don’t know what to say after seeing this photo. Even when he begged for his life, they didn’t spare him. If they had just left him alone, he would have come home to us. We would have taken care of him."
The photos come to light just as the charge sheet against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his associate Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others was submitted to the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The charge sheet details over 200 pieces of circumstantial evidence collected by the police, including CCTV footage, bloodstains on Pavithra Gowda's footwear, and forensic reports of blood traces found on the clothing of Darshan and other accused individuals.
Renukaswamy’s body was discovered on June 9 near a flyover in Bengaluru.
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