Darshan confesses to 'kicking' Renukaswamy, hitting him with a branch
Kannada actor Darshan Thogudeepa has confessed to assaulting Renukaswamy, a fan who was later found dead, as per the charge sheet filed by Bengaluru Police. The 33-year-old fan's body was discovered near a stormwater drain in Karnataka's Sumanahalli area on June 9. The charge sheet reveals that Thogudeepa kicked Renukaswamy and struck him with a branch. A Bengaluru court has extended the judicial custody of the accused till Thursday (September 12).
'I asked Pavithra to hit him with her slipper': Thogudeepa
According to the charge sheet, Thogudeepa admitted to repeatedly kicking Renukaswamy near his neck, chest, and head. He also confessed to hitting him with a tree branch. "I asked Pavithra Gowda to hit him with her slipper," he added. The charge sheet also reveals that Renukaswamy appeared to have been assaulted before Thogudeepa encountered him. This confession comes after videos of a shirtless Renukaswamy pleading for mercy before his murder went viral.
Renukaswamy allegedly sent obscene messages to Gowda
Renukaswamy, a Chitradurga native, was reportedly lured to a shed in RR Nagar by a member of Thogudeepa's fan club under the pretext of meeting the actor. He is believed to have been tortured and murdered within this shed. The post-mortem report suggests that he died due to shock and hemorrhage from multiple blunt injuries. Police sources suggest that Renukaswamy had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which allegedly provoked her "boyfriend" Thogudeepa.
Gowda named as accused number 1 in the charge sheet
Gowda has been named as accused number one in the charge sheet. She is believed to have been the "major cause" behind Renukaswamy's murder. The investigation found that she instigated the other accused, conspired with them, and participated in the crime. Meanwhile, Thogudeepa has filed a writ petition in the High Court, seeking a directive to prevent media outlets from broadcasting or publishing any details from the charge sheet.
