In a shocking turn of events, popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his wife Pavithra Gowda have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy from Bengaluru. The case has taken an alarming twist as detailed revelations surface about how Darshan allegedly orchestrated the crime through a fan club member, promising financial incentives for those willing to take the fall.
The sequence of events began when Renukaswamy, who worked at an Apollo Pharmacy in Chitradurga, created a fake Instagram account to send abusive messages to Pavithra Gowda. Renukaswamy, a devoted fan of Darshan, was reportedly upset by allegations of an extramarital affair involving Pavithra, which he believed were damaging the actor’s reputation. The police are currently investigating these allegations, including the lewd messages sent by Renukaswamy.
The investigation intensified when Renukaswamy’s body was discovered near Sumanahalli Bridge in Bengaluru, prompting the police to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding his death. Three individuals, Raghavendra, Karthik, and Kesavamurthy, confessed to the murder during interrogation, revealing a complex plot involving monetary incentives and explicit instructions to avoid implicating Darshan.
According to police sources, Darshan, prompted by Pavithra, decided to retaliate against Renukaswamy for the abusive messages. Darshan allegedly contacted Raghavendra, the convenor of his fan club in Chitradurga, to gather information on Renukaswamy. On the night of the incident, Raghavendra reportedly abducted Renukaswamy from near his house and took him to a shed in Kamakshipalya.
Sources indicate that Darshan visited the shed on the evening of June 8, the day of the murder. Before Darshan arrived, Renukaswamy was attacked by the hired men. Darshan then allegedly whipped Renukaswamy with a belt before leaving the scene. Following his departure, the perpetrators continued their assault on Renukaswamy. Pradosh, one of the perpetrators, later informed Darshan of Renukaswamy’s death and received Rs 30 lakh in cash to manage the situation, sources claim.
The plot further thickened as it was revealed that Rs 5 lakh was initially given to the perpetrators, with the promise of the remaining amount to be paid after the trial. The police have located the place where the remaining Rs 25 lakh was kept and are conducting a panchnama to recover the money.
The gruesome discovery of Renukaswamy’s body was made by a food delivery boy who noticed dogs eating a human body in a stormwater drain. This led to an initial confession from two accused individuals who approached the Kamakshipalya police, claiming they killed Renukaswamy over a financial dispute.
As the investigation progressed, Darshan and Pavithra’s involvement came to light, leading to their arrest along with 11 others. The police have confirmed that throughout the night of June 8, Darshan was kept updated on the events via WhatsApp.
Darshan and Pavithra were arrested from Darshan’s farmhouse in Mysuru and brought to Bengaluru for questioning. They were subsequently taken to a shed in Pattangere for a spot inquest, identified through CCTV footage.
Both Darshan and Pavithra, along with the other accused, have been remanded to six days of police custody. The police continue to interrogate the accused and record their statements while searching for four additional suspects who remain at large.
The case has named several individuals, including Pavithra Gowdra, Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavan, Raghavendra, Nandish, Vinay, Nagaraju, Laxman, Deepak, Pradosh, Karthik, Kesavamurthy, Nikhil Nayak, Jagadish, Anu, Ravi, and Raju, as suspects in this chilling murder plot.
