Why Is Actor Darshan Back in Bengaluru Amid Murder Case Controversy?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Actor Darshan returned to Bengaluru from Thailand amid controversy.
- The Supreme Court is unhappy with the bail granted by the High Court.
- CISF protection for Darshan has sparked public outrage.
- Serious allegations of murder and kidnapping are against him.
- The court is questioning the application of judicial discretion.
Bengaluru, July 26 (NationPress) After the Supreme Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the High Court's ruling to grant bail to actor Darshan and others involved in a high-profile murder case, Darshan returned to Bengaluru early Saturday morning from Thailand, fearing potential arrest if his bail is revoked.
In a new twist, a controversy has emerged concerning the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protection granted to Darshan at Bengaluru International Airport. He was observed being accompanied by armed CISF personnel from the terminal to his vehicle, receiving what looked like VVIP-level security. Local police officers were also seen assisting him at the airport.
The CISF agents seemed to avoid engaging with the media and fans. Upon reaching his vehicle, Darshan expressed gratitude to the CISF officers.
This incident has triggered public outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of providing CISF protection to someone accused in a murder case. Darshan returned to Bengaluru alongside his wife and son after wrapping up a film shoot for his upcoming project 'Devil' in Thailand.
During his time in Thailand, Darshan found himself in another scandal when a photo surfaced allegedly depicting him partying with Bipin Rai, a suspect in the murder of Abdul Hameed in the sensitive region of Mangaluru.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment on a petition contesting the Karnataka High Court's decision to grant bail to the Kannada superstar in the fan murder case. This followed the conclusion of legal arguments.
Throughout the proceedings, the bench reiterated its strong disapproval of the High Court's order, stating, 'We won’t repeat the High Court’s mistake.' The bench, consisting of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, instructed counsels to submit their written arguments, limited to three pages, within a week.
The judges questioned the High Court’s exercise of judicial discretion, expressing, 'Our concern is that judicious discretion was not applied in the order while granting bail to Darshan. The order has caused us distress. We can understand if a trial court judge makes an error, but how can we accept the reasoning provided by the High Court judge?'
The bench also expressed astonishment at a photograph showing Darshan with other accused individuals. 'What sort of individuals are these? Is it possible to take a photo like this after committing a murder?' the bench remarked.
The court further questioned why crucial forensic and circumstantial evidence was overlooked, and why the statements of two eyewitnesses were deemed unreliable.
'There are serious allegations of criminal conspiracy and murder, including kidnapping. How can this evidence be disregarded?' the bench questioned.
'We are not determining the punishment for the accused, nor are we exonerating him from charges. We won't repeat the High Court's errors.' the bench clarified.
Darshan, along with his partner Pavithra Gowda and 15 others, faced arrest on June 11, 2024, for charges related to the kidnapping and brutal murder of Renukaswamy, a fan from Chitradurga.