A Bengaluru trial court on Tuesday, 25 August permitted Pradosh S. Rao, accused No. 14 in the Renukaswamy murder case, to turn approver — a development that could significantly shape the ongoing trial against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 16 others, including his partner Pavithra Gowda. The court's order, passed by Judge Sujatha Madivalappa Sambhrani, marks a potential turning point in one of Karnataka's most closely watched criminal proceedings.

What the Court Ordered

Accepting Pradosh Rao's application, Judge Sambhrani granted him approver status subject to strict conditions. Rao must remain in judicial custody until the legal process concludes and is required to disclose all truthful facts within his knowledge concerning the case.

The court warned that any concealment of material facts, false evidence, or violation of conditions could result in a perjury case being registered against him. He could also lose his approver status and be reinstated as an accused in the case. A copy of the order has been dispatched to Rao through prison authorities.

Rao's Voluntary Declaration

Pradosh Rao had earlier stated before the court that his decision to become an approver was entirely voluntary and that he was acting without any external influence, pressure, or coercion. He had filed the application through his advocate in the first week of August, expressing willingness to reveal all facts related to the case and seeking pardon from the court.

His testimony is now expected to shed further light on the sequence of events leading up to and following the alleged murder of Renukaswamy.

Background: The Renukaswamy Murder Case

The case centres on the alleged abduction and murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan from Chitradurga, whose body was discovered near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of Bengaluru in June 2024. According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted and brought to Bengaluru over obscene messages he had reportedly sent to Pavithra Gowda.

Investigators allege he was brutally assaulted and tortured inside a shed before succumbing to his injuries. His body was subsequently dumped at the city's outskirts. Darshan Thoogudeepa and 16 others have been arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with the alleged abduction and murder.

Darshan's Legal Position

The case has drawn sustained public attention, in part because of Darshan's prominent status in the Kannada film industry. The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled his bail, directing his immediate re-arrest and explicitly ordering that no VIP privileges be extended to him in prison. The trial is currently underway before the Bengaluru Sessions Court.

With Pradosh Rao now cleared to turn approver, the prosecution is expected to gain access to an insider account of the alleged crime — a development that legal observers say could materially affect the trajectory of the trial.