Is Actor Darshan Facing Arrest in the Fan Murder Case?

Bengaluru, Aug 14 (NationPress) Following the cancellation of bail for actor Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda, and five other accused individuals, the prosecution is gearing up to take them into custody without delay.

Anil Nishani, a senior counsel representing the prosecution, remarked on Thursday, "We are currently awaiting the official copy of the judgement. The accused will be taken into custody immediately upon receipt of the document."

Nishani elaborated, "We were confident that the accused’s bail would be revoked. The Supreme Court criticized the leniency shown in granting bail and has now revoked it. The Apex Court also indicated it would issue summons regarding luxurious treatment within prisons, sending a message to the entire nation."

He continued, "There has been a prevailing belief that affluent and influential individuals can evade justice by securing their release from prison within a short time. The Supreme Court has made it clear that no one is above the law," he emphasized.

When inquired about the timing of the arrests, Nishani reiterated, "We will act as soon as the judgement copy is in hand."

In the meantime, police are closely monitoring the movements of all seven accused in this case. Officers have arrived at the residence of accused number one, Pavithra Gowda, in Bengaluru. Sources revealed that the Supreme Court announced its verdict while she was engaged in special prayers at the Rajarajeshwari temple. Police personnel are currently stationed outside her home.

Pavithra Gowda shared a message on Instagram on Thursday morning, stating, "The truth holds greater power than anything else in this world. No matter how long it takes, justice will always find its way and be served." Reports suggest that she was emotional following the verdict.

Authorities are also tracking Darshan's whereabouts. Sources indicated that he had traveled to Mysuru and subsequently headed towards Tamil Nadu via the Chamarajanagar district. Efforts are underway to locate the other accused, including Jagadish (Accused number 6), Anukumar (A7), Pradosh (A14), Nagaraju (A12), and Laxman (A13).

According to sources, once the Supreme Court judgement copy is procured, the prosecution will present it to the trial court, seek arrest warrants for all accused, and commence arrest operations. Police have indicated that if any accused wish to voluntarily surrender to the trial court, they will be permitted to do so.

Reacting to this development, A.S. Ponnanna, Legal Advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MLA, expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision. "This verdict aligns with the arguments put forth by the state government and investigative agencies. We contended that Darshan and the other accused should remain in custody to prevent any potential interference with the investigation, trial, and witnesses," he stated.

"We will comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling and execute its directives. We also conveyed to the Apex Court that when powerful individuals are granted bail, they can exert influence over proceedings, thereby compromising the integrity of a free and fair investigation," Ponnanna added.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court annulled the bail of Kannada actor Darshan in connection with the fan murder case. The bench also mandated that authorities take him into custody immediately. The court similarly revoked the bail of Pavithra Gowda and five other accused, who will also be apprehended without delay following the verdict.

A bench consisting of Justices R. Mahadevan and J.B. Pardiwala delivered the ruling, stating that the High Court's decision in this case was flawed. The court further directed that witness trials be expedited, emphasizing that no individual, irrespective of their status, is above the law.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan hailing from Chitradurga.