The special public prosecutor in the Renukaswamy murder case Friday filed a memo in a sessions court in Karnataka alleging that the accused film star Darshan Thoogudeepa and his co-accused are employing tactics to delay the framing of charges against them despite the Supreme Court ordering a speedy trial.
“It is humbly submitted that though the prosecution has been ready and willing to go ahead with the matter, the accused, by employing delaying tactics, started filing applications seeking discharge one after the other,” the prosecution stated in its memo dated October 24.
“It is also relevant to submit here that though this Hon’ble Court has been calling upon all the other Accused persons i.e. Accused Nos. 1-4, 6-11, 15-17 to submit on charge/hearing before charge, even after lapse of around two and half months with about 20 number of hearing dates, the accused have failed to make any submissions,” the prosecution stated.
The prosecution referred to several accused in the case filing applications for discharge, as well as for the provision of better facilities in the prison by Darshan, as efforts to delay the trial process.
The Supreme Court, in its August 14 order cancelling bail for the actor and others, stated that “given the gravity of the offence, the trial shall be conducted expeditiously, and a judgment rendered on merits, in accordance with law”.
The developments since August 14 “clearly indicate that none of the accused are cooperating with this Hon’ble Court in the early conclusion of the trial as per the directions of the Hon’ble Apex Court,” the prosecution stated.
The special prosecutor called for the trial court to take note of the delaying tactics and to “proceed with the trial expeditiously, in accordance with law and in accordance with the directions issued by the Hon’ble Apex Court… in the interest of justice”.
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The Renukaswamy murder case
Darshan was arrested on June 11, 2024, with his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga.
Renukaswamy was allegedly murdered for sending lewd comments to Gowda on Instagram. His body was discovered near a stormwater drain close to an apartment complex in Sumanahalli, Bengaluru, on June 9, 2024.
Darshan was released from prison on October 30, 2024, on interim bail after spending 131 days in jail. On December 12, 2024, the Karnataka High Court granted regular bail to him and Gowda. The state government approached the Supreme Court challenging his bail, and on August 14, 2025, the court cancelled it.