Bengaluru, August 6: A new development has emerged in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case connected to Kannada superstar Darshan. Following a recent application by accused Prodosh, two more defendants have approached a Bengaluru court seeking to become government witnesses.
Accused Ravi Shankar and Vinay informed the 59th CCH (Sessions) Court on Thursday that they would file separate applications requesting pardon and permission to testify in the case.
This revelation came during the hearing of Prodosh’s application, where he expressed his willingness to disclose all facts related to Renukaswamy’s alleged murder and requested to become a government witness.
The lawyers representing Ravi Shankar and Vinay requested the court to consider their clients as witnesses and informed the bench that separate petitions would be submitted later in the day. Both Ravi Shankar and Vinay are currently out on bail.
However, the lawyer representing Prodosh urged the Sessions Court not to combine the applications of the other two accused with his client’s petition. He argued that the court should first record Prodosh’s statement before allowing the prosecution to make a decision on the subsequent applications.
Notably, Prodosh has sought pardon under provisions related to witnesses through his lawyer, stating his readiness to reveal the complete truth behind the crime. He has also requested permission to participate in the proceedings via video conferencing from a separate room. Currently, he is being virtually presented alongside other accused, including Darshan, from the same room. The 59th CCH Court has directed the prosecution to clarify its stance on Prodosh’s application.
The Renukaswamy murder case has drawn significant public attention since the arrest of Kannada actor Darshan Thugudeepa and 16 others on charges of kidnapping and murdering a 33-year-old fan from Chitradurga.
According to the prosecution, Renukaswamy was kidnapped and brought to Bengaluru in June 2024. He allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavitra Gowda. Investigators claim he was brutally beaten and tortured inside a shed before dying from his injuries. His body was later discarded near a stormwater drain on the outskirts of the city.
Previously, the Supreme Court had revoked Darshan’s bail and ordered his immediate re-arrest, stating that he would not receive any VIP treatment in jail. The sensational case is currently under trial in the Bengaluru Sessions Court.
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