Kannada actor Darshan to get TV in prison cell

Ballari: Jailed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa will be provided a television in his cell following a request, officials said on Saturday.

The Bengaluru police filed a 3,991-page chargesheet against 17 accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, including Darshan, on Wednesday.

On August 29, the actor was shifted from Parappana Agrahara central prison in Bengaluru to Ballari after a photograph of him hanging out with three others, including a rowdy-sheeter, on the lawns of the jail had gone viral sparking a row.

“He had requested for a TV in his cell last week to keep himself updated about his case related developments and to keep himself informed of the developments in the outside world. So, as per procedure and prison guidelines, he will be provided with a television in his cell most likely by Monday,” a senior jail official told PTI.

Darshan along with his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others, who are accused in the case, are currently under judicial custody in different prisons in the state.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Pavithra, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.

Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed at R R Nagar in Bengaluru, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.

As per the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.

Police sources said Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the “major cause” for Renukaswamy’s murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.