Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, apprehended in connection with a murder case, reportedly attempted to coerce three persons into confessing to the crime in exchange for cash, the police have revealed.
The actor, taken into custody on Tuesday (June 11, 2024), purportedly offered each of the men Rs 5 lakh to falsely admit to their involvement in the incident.
The body of 33-year-old Renuka Swamy was discovered in a drain at the Sumanahalli bridge in Bengaluru, after a food delivery agent alerted the authorities upon observing dogs scavenging the area.
Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Renuka Swamy had sent inappropriate messages to Darshan’s co-star and girlfriend Pavithra Gowda. The authorities are now investigating online harassment and the use of offensive language as potential motives for the heinous crime.
According to police reports, Kannada actor Darshan enlisted the help of Raghavendra, also known as Raghu, the coordinator of his fan club in Chitradurga, to gather information about Renuka Swamy. The victim’s spouse further alleged that Raghu had picked him up from near their residence.
Prior to his demise, Renuka Swamy was ruthlessly beaten with wooden sticks inside a shed, as per the police complaint. Thirteen persons, including Darshan and Pavithra Gowda, have been detained in connection with the case.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has granted the police full authority to take appropriate action against Darshan and other suspects within the bounds of the law. The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the Kannada film industry, prompting the state’s leading industry association to call for a halt on the release of Darshan’s films.
Kannada actor Darshan, widely known as the ‘Challenging Star’, has featured in numerous successful commercial and critically acclaimed projects such as ‘Kariya’ (2003), ‘Namma Preethiya Ramu’ (2003), ‘Tarak’ (2017), ‘Yajamana’ (2019) and ‘Kurukshetra’ (2019).
