SC cancels bail granted to actor Darshan in Renukaswamy murder case
Hearing a plea from the Karnataka government, the SC said that the high court's decision to grant bail to actor Darshan and other accused suffered from 'serious infirmity'
The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 14) cancelled the bail granted by the Karnataka High Court to actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case.
The Karnataka government had challenged the order of the Karnataka High Court dated December 13, 2024 granting bail to the actor who is allegedly involved in the murder of his 33-year-old fan.
The Supreme Court held that the Karnataka High Court granted bail to the accused persons in a "mechanical manner", and observed that the High Court's order suffered from "perversity".
Also Read: 'Not at all convinced': SC questions Darshan's bail in Renukaswamy murder case
A SC bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan had reserved judgement in the case on July 24 this year. It had asked the State of Karnataka if it had any evidence to corroborate the statement of two eyewitnesses that the actor Darshan was involved in the crime. At the same time, the bench had raised serious concerns regarding the exercise of discretion by the High Court in granting bail to Darshan.
The court had also asked Darshan's lawyers to give good reasons why the SC should not interfere with the decision of the High Court.
Also Read: Upset over bail to Darshan, Karnataka to move Supreme Court
Darshan had allegedly abducted the victim from Chitradurga and had him tortured in Bengaluru in June 2024. The victim later succumbed to the torture, and his body was thrown into a drain, according to the police report.
Darshan and the other seven accused in the case had moved the High Court seeking bail after the sessions court had rejected their petition.