Bengaluru: In a significant development in the fan murder case, the 59th City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru on Monday has ruled that jailed Kannada actor Darshan and other accused persons need not be heard on the application filed by accused No. 14, Pradosh, seeking to turn approver in the case.
The court made it clear that there was no necessity to hear submissions from Darshan and the other accused regarding Pradosh’s plea and that they could not oppose his application on the ground that they would be affected if he was allowed to become an approver.
The court has not yet taken a final decision on Pradosh’s application. It stated that the plea would be considered and a decision would be taken in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
Pradosh, who is currently in judicial custody, had approached the court seeking pardon and permission to become an approver. He has expressed his willingness to disclose the complete facts and circumstances surrounding the murder of Renukaswamy.
Darshan’s counsel had opposed the plea and sought an opportunity to make submissions against Pradosh’s application. The defence had argued that the accused persons would be affected if Pradosh was made an approver and, therefore, should have the right to question his plea.
However, the Special Public Prosecutor opposed the request, arguing that the decision on whether an accused should be granted pardon and made an approver rests with the prosecution and the court.
The prosecution maintained that any alleged legal irregularity in the process could be challenged at an appropriate stage and that the accused could not insist on being heard at the present stage.
The proceedings also witnessed another development, with two other accused expressing their intention to seek approver status.
Accused No. 8 Ravishankar and Accused No. 10 Vinay informed the 59th CCH Court that they would file separate applications seeking pardon and permission to become approvers. Both are currently out on bail.
Their counsel sought consideration of their proposed applications. However, Pradosh’s counsel opposed clubbing the applications with his client’s plea.
Pradosh’s counsel argued that the court should first record his client’s statement and that the prosecution could subsequently take an appropriate decision on the applications filed by the other accused.
Pradosh has also filed a separate application seeking permission to participate in the proceedings through video conference from a separate room. At present, he is produced virtually from the same room as the other accused, including Darshan.
The court has directed the prosecution to clarify its stand on Pradosh’s application and will take a decision on the plea in accordance with the law.
The Renukaswamy murder case relates to the alleged abduction and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan from Chitradurga. Darshan, Pavithra Gowda and 15 others have been arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with the case.
According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted and brought to Bengaluru in June 2024. Investigators have alleged that he was assaulted at a shed before succumbing to his injuries. His body was later allegedly dumped near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
The case is currently being tried before the Bengaluru Sessions Court. The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled Darshan’s bail and directed his immediate re-arrest, while also ordering that he should not be given VIP treatment in prison.
(IANS)
