Renukaswamy's last rites held, family seeks justice

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The funeral of Renukaswamy, who was found murdered in Bengaluru, took place on Tuesday at the Hindu Rudrabhoomi near Dwaraka Barangay on Jogimatti Road.

The last rites were conducted according to Veerashaiva Lingayat customs. Renukaswamy’s family— his wife, parents, and sister— were visibly distraught during the ceremony.

The family expressed their anger against actor Darshan, who is one of the accused in Renukaswamy's murder.

Speaking to the media, Renukaswamy’s wife, Sahana who is five-months pregnant, expressed her sorrow and demanded justice for her family.

"They (the ones behind the murder) are monsters, not humans. When a person is put to death, the entire family members dependent on him suffer a 'worse-than-death' situation," she said.

She alleged that Renukaswamy was abducted by one of the members of Darshan Fan Club, Raghavendra, on Friday night from their house.

"They say my husband was a Darshan fan, but that is not true. They may try to mislead the investigation in a bid to escape from the punishment. We have faith in the law" she said.

Renukaswamy's father, Shivanagowda, and mother, Ratnaprabha, also demanded severe punishment for the accused.

"Those who killed my son should be given strict punishment. Renukaswamy’s wife was waiting for her husband to return for dinner that night," said Shivanagowda, adding that a proper investigation should be conducted by the police.

Protest by Different Organizations

Meanwhile various organizations in Chitradurga staged a protest march on Wednesday to condemn Renukaswamy’s murder.

The rally began from Neelkantheshwara Temple and proceeded to the District Collector's office, demanding a transparent investigation and severe punishment for the accused.

Former BJP MLA GH Thippa Reddy said, "Darshan used to be an onscreen hero, but in real life, he is not. We cannot imagine the suffering of Renukaswamy’s parents," he said.

"Why has Darshan, who should be accused number 1, been listed as accused number 2? This seems to be an attempt to protect him. Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara talks as if nothing has happened. The government must not try to undermine such incidents. Darshan and the other accused must be given life imprisonment,'' he said.