Karnataka HC refuses to cancel bail of 5 accused in Darshan fan murder case
Synopsis
The Karnataka High Court has declined to cancel bail for five accused in the Renukaswamy fan murder case — even as the Supreme Court had earlier revoked bail for Darshan and six others in the same case, sharply criticising the High Court's earlier order as a prima facie misuse of judicial power. Wednesday's ruling adds a fresh legal chapter to one of Karnataka's most closely watched criminal trials.
Key Takeaways
The Karnataka High Court on 10 June refused to cancel bail granted to five accused — Pavan, Dhanaraju, Vinay, Raghavendra , and Nandish — in the Darshan fan murder case .
The bench of Justice S.
Rachaiah held that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient grounds for bail revocation.
The prosecution had argued the accused were influential and posed risks of witness tampering and evidence destruction.
The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled bail for seven accused , including actor Darshan , and criticised the High Court's earlier bail order as a prima facie misuse of judicial power.
Victim Renukaswamy, 33 , was allegedly kidnapped and murdered at Pattangere village, Bengaluru ; his body was found on 9 June 2024 .
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday, 10 June refused to cancel the bail granted to five accused persons in the high-profile fan murder case involving Kannada actor Darshan and his partner, actress Pavithra Gowda, dismissing a prosecution petition seeking bail revocation. The bench, headed by Justice S. Rachaiah, held that the prosecution had failed to place sufficient and compelling grounds before the court to justify cancellation.
Who the Five Accused Are
The court's order grants relief to Pavan, Dhanaraju, Vinay, Raghavendra, and Nandish — all of whom had previously been granted bail by the High Court after the Supreme Court cancelled the bail of seven accused persons, including Darshan himself.
Raghavendra was the President of the Chitradurga Darshan Fans' Club and is accused of bringing the victim to Bengaluru. Pavan and Vinay are identified as key associates who allegedly aided in the kidnapping, logistical arrangements, and destruction of evidence. Nandish allegedly procured an electrical testing device — a 'megger' — used to administer electric shocks to the victim, Renukaswamy, and faces charges of murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and assault. Dhanaraju, charged with murder, kidnapping, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy, is accused of delivering the megger to the crime scene and helping other suspects carry out the torture.
What the Prosecution Argued
The prosecution contended that the five accused were influential individuals and key figures in the case. It argued that allowing them to remain on bail posed a real risk of witness influence, evidence tampering, and potential destruction of material. The High Court, however, found these submissions insufficient to meet the legal threshold for bail cancellation, and held that no strong reasons had been placed before it to revoke the earlier orders.
Background: The Renukaswamy Murder
Renukaswamy, 33, was a fan of Darshan. According to the prosecution, he was kidnapped and murdered allegedly at Darshan's behest after he reportedly harassed Pavithra Gowda. His body was found near a flyover in Bengaluru on 9 June 2024. The alleged crime took place at Pattangere village in Bengaluru, where Renukaswamy was reportedly beaten to death; Darshan was allegedly informed of his death via WhatsApp.
Supreme Court's Earlier Intervention
The Supreme Court had previously overturned the Karnataka High Court's decision granting bail to Darshan and others. A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan had sharply criticised the High Court's bail order, remarking that it had been passed 'as if it were deciding conviction or acquittal.' The Supreme Court observed that there was a prima facie misuse of judicial power in that instance, and cautioned that such errors are unacceptable at the High Court level. Wednesday's order, however, pertains to a separate set of five accused, and the court found no grounds to disturb their bail at this stage.
The case continues to draw scrutiny over the conduct of proceedings at multiple court levels, with the trial still under way.
Point of View
Pointed rebuke of the same court's handling of bail in this very case. The apex court's observation of a 'prima facie misuse of judicial power' was unusually sharp — and yet bail for a second cohort of accused now survives scrutiny at the same court. The prosecution's inability to place 'compelling grounds' on record points to a structural problem: in high-profile cases with influential accused, the evidentiary bar for bail cancellation can become a shield rather than a safeguard. With the trial ongoing and witness protection concerns unresolved, the gap between the Supreme Court's tone and the High Court's outcomes deserves closer attention.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Karnataka High Court decide in the Darshan fan murder case on 10 June?
The Karnataka High Court refused to cancel bail for five accused — Pavan, Dhanaraju, Vinay, Raghavendra, and Nandish — in the Renukaswamy fan murder case on 10 June. Justice S. Rachaiah's bench dismissed the prosecution's petition, holding that insufficient grounds were placed before the court to justify revocation.
Who is Renukaswamy and what happened to him?
Renukaswamy, 33, was a fan of Kannada actor Darshan. He was allegedly kidnapped and murdered at Pattangere village in Bengaluru, reportedly at Darshan's behest, after he allegedly harassed actress Pavithra Gowda. His body was discovered near a flyover in Bengaluru on 9 June 2024.
Why did the Supreme Court cancel Darshan's bail earlier?
The Supreme Court cancelled bail for Darshan and six other accused after finding that the Karnataka High Court had passed the bail order 'as if it were deciding conviction or acquittal.' A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan observed a prima facie misuse of judicial power in that order.
What charges do the five accused face?
The five accused face charges including murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and assault. Nandish is additionally accused of procuring a 'megger' device used to administer electric shocks to the victim, while Dhanaraju is accused of delivering it to the crime scene.
What happens next in the Darshan fan murder case?
The trial in the Renukaswamy murder case is ongoing. The prosecution's failure to secure bail cancellation for the five accused means they remain out on bail while proceedings continue, raising unresolved concerns about witness protection and evidence integrity flagged during Wednesday's hearing.
