Karnataka High Court grants 6-week bail to actor Darshan in auto-driver murder case

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted interim bail for six weeks to popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, currently detained in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.

The bail was approved on Wednesday to allow Darshan to undergo a necessary surgical procedure at a private hospital in Mysuru.

The interim bail was sanctioned by Justice S Vishwajith Shetty following an extensive hearing on the matter. Darshan’s application for regular bail, previously denied by the trial court, is still awaiting a final decision in the High Court.

Darshan, who has been held in Ballari Prison since his arrest on June 11, is accused of orchestrating an attack on 33-year-old auto-driver Renukaswamy, who later succumbed to his injuries.

Allegations suggest the attack was motivated by derogatory remarks made by Renukaswamy against Darshan’s partner, Pavithra Gowda, on social media.

Senior Advocate S Nagesh, representing Darshan, presented medical reports indicating that Darshan’s spinal and foot issues require urgent surgical intervention. The High Court reviewed reports from Bellary Central Prison and Bellary government hospital specialists, which supported the need for surgery.

Nagesh argued that the actor’s medical condition warrants treatment at Mysuru’s Apollo Hospital and confirmed that Darshan would cover all related medical expenses. However, State Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar opposed the interim bail plea, expressing concerns over the exact duration of hospitalisation needed and suggesting that the surgery should take place in a government facility after a thorough assessment by a medical board.

Darshan’s regular bail plea remains pending, and the High Court’s order provides him temporary relief to address his medical needs.