Congress MLA says Darshan not murderer

Mandya, NT Bureau: Congress MLA from Maddur KM Uday Gowda complicated matters further for his party when he voiced support for actor and murder accused Darshan Thoogudeepa.

Gowda insisted that Darshan was merely short-tempered and not a murderer, adding that he had been a friend of the actor for years.

The MLA also denied that some of Darshan’s more enthusiastic fans had attacked one of his gunmen. Darshan and his aides stand accused of torturing one Renukaswamy to death because the victim had made derogatory remarks about his wife Pavithra Gowda on social media.

The actor and his friend have been arrested alongside others and an investigation is underway. The issue that critics have flagged is that a sitting MLA ought not to have pronounced judgement on an ongoing murder case.

This comes in the backdrop of accusations that a junior minister in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet had requested that the State government go easy on the actor.

“He is not a bad man. He is not a murderer. He is a good man, who is a little short-tempered. He is known to be a little rough and tough in the way he speaks sometimes,” Gowda told mediapersons.

“I don’t know about his role. There is an allegation. Investigation is underway. He is in custody. It would be wrong on my part to offer an opinion. Authorities will speak on it in the near future. The truth will come out,” he added.

The MLA said that Darshan was not being favoured by the State government since he was in custody.