Darshan case victim not kidnapped, says driver who transported him

Bengaluru:

Ravi, the driver involved in a murder case in which popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda are accused, told the police that he was asked to take responsibility for the murder, but he had refused.

According to Ravi, Renuka Swamy, whose body was later discovered, did not anticipate the assault that awaited him when he got into his taxi. Ravi said Mr Swamy was not taken by force but was persuaded by others to join them. In the taxi, the other accused in the case assured Mr. Swamy that they would take him to meet Darshan and suggested that he apologize for his comments on social media against the actor's girlfriend.

Darshan, his co-star and girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 11 others are in police custody. Ms. Gowda allegedly instigated Darshan to punish Renuka Swamy for derogatory remarks allegedly made on her social media posts.

Ravi transported Renuka Swamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru, a journey of around 200 kilometers. On reaching Bangalore, Ravi hid but then contacted the Chitradurga Taxi Association, who advised him to go to the police.

Ravi's handover on Thursday evening to the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Chitradurga gave a new direction to the investigation. According to the police, Raghu alias Raghavendra, who ran a fan club for Darshan in Chitradurga, arranged for the taxi that Ravi was driving. Raghu, along with others, had masterminded the kidnapping of Renuka Swamy on June 8, leading to the sequence of events.

Investigation details reveal that Darshan and his aides took Swamy to a shed in Kamakshipalya in Bengaluru. There, Darshan allegedly beat Swamy with a belt and his aides beat him with sticks until he lost consciousness. The attack resulted in multiple fractures and serious injuries. Renuka Swamy's body, later found by a food delivery boy, was being nibbled by dogs.

The autopsy report confirmed the brutal nature of the killing, citing shock and hemorrhage as the cause of death. The report identified 15 injuries on Swamy's body, with injuries to the head, abdomen, chest and other parts. His head had also hit a mini-truck parked near the hangar, aggravating the fatal injuries. Police seized the truck and other instruments used in torture, including wooden logs, a leather belt and rope.

Darshan allegedly placed three men to take responsibility for the murder, offering them Rs 5 lakh each.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara refuted allegations that Darshan was given preferential treatment during his detention at the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station. Mr. Parameshwara said Darshan was being given the same treatment as any other accused, dispelling rumors that special facilities such as serving 'Biryani' would be given.

“It is not possible for the police to give biryani and royal treatment to the accused. It is not done and it should not be done,” Mr Parameshwara said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have also denied any undue influence on the investigation. Reports suggesting a state minister was trying to protect Darshan were strongly denied by Mr Shivakumar, who said no political pressure was being exerted.

“There is no pressure from anyone… neither our interior minister nor anyone else is involved, we are not recommending anything, we know nothing,” Mr. Shivakumar said.

The case sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests across Karnataka. In Kalaburagi, the Jangam Samaj staged a massive protest demanding severe punishment against Darshan and his associates. The protesters marched from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel circle to the district deputy commissioner's office, where they burned Darshan's portrait to condemn the murder.

BJP leader CP Yogeshwar claimed that Mr. Shivakumar and his brother, former MP DK Suresh, were planning to field Darshan as a Congress candidate in the upcoming Channapatna Assembly by-election. This by-election is pending following the election of JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to the Lok Sabha.