Two more accused in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case — involving jailed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa — approached a Bengaluru court on Thursday, 6 August, seeking to turn approvers, days after Accused No. 14, Pradosh, filed a similar plea offering to reveal the full truth behind the alleged crime.

Who Filed the New Pleas

Accused No. 8, Ravishankar, and Accused No. 10, Vinay, informed the 59th CCH (Sessions) Court in Bengaluru that they would submit separate applications seeking pardon and permission to become approvers in the case. Both are currently out on bail. Their counsel urged the court to consider their clients alongside Pradosh's pending application.

Pradosh's advocate, however, objected to the clubbing of applications. He argued that the court should first record Pradosh's statement independently, after which the prosecution could take a considered call on the subsequent pleas from Ravishankar and Vinay.

What Pradosh Has Sought

Pradosh, through his advocate, has sought pardon under the provisions relating to approvers, stating his readiness to disclose all facts connected to the alleged murder of Renukaswamy. In a separate application, he has also requested permission to participate in court proceedings via video conferencing from a separate room — noting that he is currently produced virtually from the same room as the other accused, including Darshan.

The 59th CCH Court has directed the prosecution to clarify its stand on Pradosh's application before the matter proceeds further.

Background: The Renukaswamy Murder Case

The case centres on the alleged abduction and murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan from Chitradurga. According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted and brought to Bengaluru in June 2024 over obscene messages he had allegedly sent to Pavithra Gowda, Darshan's partner. Investigators claim he was brutally assaulted and tortured inside a shed before succumbing to his injuries; his body was later found near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of the city.

Darshan Thoogudeepa and 16 others, including Pavithra Gowda, have been arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with the case. The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled Darshan's bail, ordering his immediate re-arrest and directing that no VIP privileges be extended to him in prison.

Where the Trial Stands

The trial is currently underway before the Bengaluru Sessions Court. The growing number of accused now seeking approver status signals that the evidentiary landscape of the case may be shifting — a development the prosecution will need to navigate carefully. The court's next directions on Pradosh's application are expected to set the tone for how the remaining pleas are handled.