Benglore : Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan by the Karnataka High Court in the Renukaswamy murder case. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan observed that the High Court’s December 13, 2024, order granting bail suffered from “serious legal infirmity” and was an “arbitrary exercise” of discretion.
No legal reason to grant bail,” the bench observed, adding that Darshan’s liberty posed a “risk of derailing the administration of justice. Justice Pardiwala emphasised that no man is above the law and obedience to law is a rule, not a favour. The bench warned state and jail authorities that no special treatment should be extended to Darshan in custody.
The day we come to know that the accused are being given five-star treatment in jail premises, we will place the jail superintendent under suspension, Justice Pardiwala said, also cautioning against allowing him to smoke or drink in prison. The bench said the allegations against the actor, coupled with forensic evidence, reinforced the need to cancel his bail. We are satisfied to exercise our extraordinary jurisdiction, the order read.
Darshan, currently in Tamil Nadu, will be arrested soon after Bengaluru Police submit the Supreme Court’s order to the trial court and obtain a warrant. The bench said it was assessing whether the High Court had “applied its mind judiciously before granting bail in such a serious matter. We will not make the same mistake the High Court did,” the bench remarked, adding, We are a little serious because it is a case of murder and conspiracy.
The case stems from the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, described as a fan of Darshan’s associate and actress Pavithra Gowda. Police say the victim had sent obscene messages to Gowda, prompting Darshan to allegedly abduct him from Chitradurga in June 2024.
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