Setback for actor Darshan: Plea against co-accused turning approver rejected

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a plea by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa seeking permission for a co-accused to become a prosecution witness in the 2024 Renukaswamy murder case, according to sources. Darshan's petition was dismissed by Justice M Nagaprasanna, who remarked, "No co-accused will ever turn approver if such a procedure is permitted."

The case involves co-accused Pradosh S, who filed an 11-page petition alleging the murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old auto driver from Chitradurga. Pradosh claimed that Renukaswamy was abducted, tortured, and murdered, with his body disposed of in a stormwater drain in Bengaluru. Darshan had challenged an August 10 order passed by the sessions court, which denied his application to be heard before making a decision on Pradosh's request to turn approver.

Senior Advocate Hashmath Pasha argued that Darshan's right to be heard should not be stripped away, particularly to address procedural irregularities in Pradosh's application. Darshan's attorneys alleged that Pradosh's intention was to exact revenge and believed that becoming a prosecution witness would lead to immediate release on bail.

The prosecution countered that a co-accused does not have a legal right to an audience on another accused's plea to turn approver, stating that the decision to pardon falls under judicial discretion. Renukaswamy was allegedly kidnapped and murdered in June 2024 for sending derogatory messages to Darshan's friend, actress Pavithra Gowda.