Murder case: Darshan paid money to destroy evidence, say cops

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The investigating officers probing the Renukaswamy murder case, on Friday said that the Kannada film star Darshan Thoogudeepa had contacted several individuals soon after the alleged murder.

Aimed at escaping from "adverse legal actions" against him and in order to meet the expenses to "cover up" the conspiracy and destruction of evidence, Darshan, accused number two in the case, had allegedly taken Rs 40 lakh from a friend, and the money has been recovered, the police said.

Darshan, in his revised statement, admitted to have obtained Rs 40 lakh from his friend Mohan Raj, according to police. The police said they have recovered Rs 37.4 lakh in cash from Darshan's house and Rs 3 lakh that he had given to his wife.

A total of 17 people including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are accused in the murder case. On Thursday, the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court in Bengaluru, extended the custody of Darshan and three others while the other accused including Pavithra were sent to judicial custody.

According to sources, Pavithra Gowda, listed as accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamy's murder, stating that she had instigated the other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.

The police said that Darshan and the other accused, Dhanraj D, Vinay V and Pradosh, are not cooperating with the investigation and are trying to hide facts. Accused Pradosh played the main role in the destruction of evidence and is hiding information, police said.

He had taken another person to the crime scene and has not revealed the identity of that person. "He needs to be probed further," an officer said. Pradosh is also said to have thrown the mobile phones of the victim and accused number 4, Raghavendra in the "drainage," and efforts made to recover them have not yielded result.

Police have recovered Rs 4.40 lakh from Raghavendra, who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga. They also claimed to have recovered the victim Renukaswamy's gold ring and chain from Raghavendra's residence. Renukaswamy's mother has identified the recovered gold ring and chain.

The investigation team is believed to have gathered enough evidence including CCTV footage, which could establish that Darshan was present during the alleged assault on Renukaswamy, sources said.

"From the spot of the crime, things such as lathi, wood pieces, also water bottle, blood stains and material evidence, DVR containing the CCTV footage have been recovered," the police had earlier said.

Actress Pavithra had beaten up Renukaswamy with slippers, police say

Police investigating the Renukaswamy murder case said that actress Pavithra Gowda had beaten up the victim with her slippers, according to a recent remand note presented by the police in court.

Police have seized the slipper, clothes, materials and other documents connected to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, also accused in the murder, from Pavithra's house.

The actress has been named as accused number one in the case, allegedly for being the instigator, while Darshan is accused number two, who allegedly executed the murder.

Darshan's gang member Dhanaraj alias Raja, who is accused number nine in the case, had allegedly given Renukaswamy electric shocks.

Police seized an ‘Electric Shock Torch' from his house. Police have arrested Darshan along with Gowda and 15 others in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. Renukaswamy, who was a fan of Darshan, was abducted from Chitradurga on June 8 and was tortured to death allegedly by the actor and his aides.

As part of the investigation, police sources said, they are contemplating on approaching social media giant Meta to retrieve data related to messages shared by Renukaswamy on his Instagram post, which has been deleted.