Kannada actor Darshan has filed two petitions before the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court's order in the Renukaswamy murder case, contesting the grant of approver status to co-accused Pradosh Rao. His wife Vijayalakshmi has separately approached the apex court in connection with the same proceedings, bringing the total number of petitions before the Supreme Court to three. The petitions are likely to come up for consideration this week.

What Darshan Has Challenged

In his petition, Darshan has contended that a co-accused's statement need not be heard before a decision is taken on approver status, and has questioned the procedure adopted in granting Pradosh Rao that designation. The Karnataka High Court had previously upheld the trial court's order granting Pradosh approver status, following which Darshan's legal team escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.

Senior advocate Hashmat Pasha, appearing for Darshan, filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on proceedings concerning Pradosh's statement. 'We had approached the trial court challenging Pradosh being made an approver. However, as the trial court did not accept our plea, we have filed an SLP before the Supreme Court,' Pasha said.

Pradosh's Statement Being Recorded

The development comes as the trial court is actively recording the statement of Pradosh Rao, who has turned approver and is also listed as a prosecution witness in the case. His statement was recorded for nearly three hours before the court on Monday, with proceedings held in-camera. The matter was adjourned to Tuesday for continued recording of his testimony. The prosecution has relied on his statement in connection with the alleged events leading to Renukaswamy's killing.

Background: The Renukaswamy Murder Case

The case concerns the alleged killing of 35-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of actor Darshan, in Bengaluru in June 2024. According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted, assaulted, and killed, with his body later found in the Kamakshipalya area of the city. Darshan and several others were subsequently arrested and are currently facing trial.

The prosecution has alleged that Renukaswamy was targeted after he reportedly sent vulgar messages to Darshan's partner, Pavithra Gowda. Notably, the case has drawn sustained public attention given Darshan's prominent status in the Kannada film industry.

What Happens Next

With three petitions now pending before the Supreme Court, the apex court's decision on the challenge to Pradosh's approver status could have a significant bearing on the trial's trajectory. If the court grants a stay on the recording of Pradosh's statement, it could delay proceedings considerably. The outcome of this legal challenge is being closely watched by both the defence and prosecution.