Banglore : Karnataka High Court’s grant of bail to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa – a key accused in the kidnap, torture, and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy in June last year – was criticised as a “prima facie perverse exercise of judicial power” by the Supreme Court.
This is the second time in a week the Supreme Court has rebuked the High Court over the release of the actor. Last week the High Court was told it had failed to exercise discretion in granting bail. This afternoon a bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan said they would not make the same mistake as the High Court.
The manner in which the High Court dictated the order… very sorry to say. Does the High Court dictate the same kind of order in other cases too? Justice Pardiwala asked, What is troubling is the reasoning given… especially saying ‘grounds of arrest were not furnished’ for a murder case. It is, prima facie, a perverse exercise of judicial power…the Supreme Court said. A trial court judge making such a mistake is acceptable… but a high court judge.
The Supreme Court, clearly already unhappy, also had questions for the state after being told the trial would be held on a daily basis. Justice Pardiwala asked why this case merited such attention when other accused had been languishing in prison, waiting their chance, for years. The top court was later informed the trial would be completed in six months.
Renukaswamy’s body was found in stormwater drain on June 9. The police believe Darshan paid Rs 50 lakh to four men involved in the planning and execution of the gruesome crime, including arranging for Renukaswamy to be brought to Bengaluru.
The cops have said, includes Rs 30 lakh to a man called Pradosh (alias Pawan) to handle all aspects of the abduction and murder, as well as disposal of the body. Two others – Nikhil and Keshavamurthy were given Rs 5 lakh each for their roles in the murder and dumping the body.
And Rs 5 lakh was to be paid to the families of two men – Raghavendra and Karthik – for submitting false confessions and going to prison in place of Darshan and Pavithra Gowda. In April there was public fury after the actor – told to attend every court hearing as part of his bail conditions – skipped an appearance citing back pain and then, hours later, was at a movie screening.
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