Following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Karnataka High Court's grant of bail, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was arrested on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. The Supreme Court cited "serious legal infirmities" in the High Court's order.
Darshan was taken into custody shortly after arriving at his wife's residence in Hosakerehalli, Bengaluru. Sources indicate that he was planning to evade arrest and surrender in court, but authorities received information regarding his location and acted swiftly. Actress Pavithra Gowda, a co-accused in the case, was also arrested.
The Supreme Court's bench, consisting of Justices J. B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, stated that the High Court's order was issued without properly considering allegations of witness intimidation and other irregularities. The Karnataka government had challenged the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court. Advocate D. L. Chidananda, representing the state, welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict, stating that the High Court had not followed the principles of law applicable for granting bail.
During the proceedings, Justice Pardiwala emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, stating, "Justice Mahadevan has pronounced a very erudite judgment. It is ineffable. It conveys a message that, however big the accused may be, he or she is not above the law". He further added that the justice system must ensure the rule of law is maintained at all costs, and that no one is above or below the law. In a separate note, Justice Pardiwala stressed that obedience to the law is demanded as a right, not asked as a favor.
The Supreme Court also cautioned against providing preferential treatment to the accused while in custody, warning of strict action, including suspension of jail officials, if any misconduct is discovered. This warning comes after a previous incident where a photograph surfaced showing Darshan allegedly receiving preferential treatment during a prior stint in Bengaluru Central Prison, leading to his transfer to Ballari Prison.
The case revolves around the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, whose body was found near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru on June 9, 2024. Police investigations led to the arrest of Darshan on June 11, 2024, along with Pavithra Gowda and others. According to the police, Renukaswamy allegedly sent offensive messages to Pavithra, which served as the motive for the crime.
The Supreme Court has directed that the trial be expedited. Darshan and the other accused who were re-arrested are being held in separate cells within the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. Two more accused in the murder case were remanded to judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Friday.
The Supreme Court's decision sends a strong message that celebrity status does not provide immunity from the law. The court emphasized that all individuals are equally subject to the law, regardless of their wealth, influence, or fame. The court cautioned that celebrities serve as social role models, and therefore, accountability is greater, not lesser.
