Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was taken into custody in connection with a murder case on Tuesday, June 11. The actor was picked up from a hotel in Mysuru and was shifted to Bengaluru by the jurisdictional police.
The local police in Bengaluru was investigating the murder of one Renukaswamy, who originally belonged to Chitradurga. It had taken nine persons for questioning in connection with the murder when Darshan’s name was also mentioned, following which the police took him into custody.
It is being said that Renukaswamy was allegedly murdered for online harassment of Pavithra Gowda, a close friend of Mr. Darshan. Both Mr. Darshan and Ms. Pavithra, along with nine other accused, have been detained for questioning at Annapoorneshwari Nagar Police Station in the city.
According to the police, Renukaswamy was called by the accused to Bengaluru. He was then allegedly tortured and killed, before his body was dumped in a drain in Kamakshipalya, close to the police station, two months ago. The murder was allegedly committed at a car shed in Pattanagere, which belongs to an uncle of one of the accused.
Initial probe led the police to a missing person’s complaint registered in Chitradurga. During the course of the investigation, three persons surrendered claiming that they killed Renukaswamy due to financial issues. However, further investigation led them to Darshan.
Speaking to mediapersons, S. Girish, DCP west division, said, “We have taken him (Darshan Thoogudeepa) into custody for the murder of one Renukaswamy of Chitradurga. The case has been registered at Kamakshipalya Police Station. Ten more people have been taken into custody and we are interrogating them. We cannot disclose any minute details at this juncture.”
As news of his arrest spread, policemen were posted around the actor’s residence at Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru.
More details awaited.