A Bengaluru court has formally charged Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his associate Pavithra Gowda, and fifteen other individuals in connection with the 2024 Renukaswamy murder case. The highly anticipated trial is now slated to begin on November 10.
Authorities allege that Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old medical shop worker from Chitradurga, was abducted by Darshan’s accomplices. The motive behind the abduction reportedly stemmed from Renukaswamy sending inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda. He was then brought to a shed in Bengaluru, where Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and others are accused of brutally beating him to death. The police claim the body was later disposed of in a storm water drain in an attempt to conceal the heinous crime. This detailed account is outlined in the extensive 3,991-page charge sheet, filed on September 3, 2024, which names Pavithra as Accused No. 1 and Darshan as Accused No. 2, meticulously detailing each individual’s alleged involvement. A supplementary charge sheet was also later submitted.
Renukaswamy’s disfigured remains were discovered near a storm water drain in Sumanahalli, West Bengaluru, on June 9, 2024. The following day, four individuals surrendered to the police, confessing to the murder. However, subsequent interrogation led investigators directly to actor Darshan and his partner, Pavithra Gowda, unraveling a much larger conspiracy.
The seventeen individuals implicated in the case now face severe charges, including Section 302 (murder), Section 359 (kidnapping), Section 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), and Section 204 (attempt to destroy evidence), among other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
During the recent court proceedings, all seventeen accused collectively entered pleas of “not guilty” as the judge of the Additional City Civil and Sessions Court (CCH-57) formally read out the charges. Following the recording of their pleas, the judge officially scheduled the case for trial commencement on November 10, 2025.
The court session was marked by considerable tension and public interest, with numerous advocates and curious citizens filling the courtroom. The judge was compelled to request all individuals not directly involved in the case to vacate the hall, ensuring the smooth and orderly conduct of the legal proceedings.
Upon the conclusion of the proceedings, each of the accused signed the charge documents. They were subsequently escorted back to the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison Complex, where they remain under judicial custody awaiting trial.