In a major development in the murder case involving popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his associates, the driver, identified as Ravi, who had allegedly transported the victim, Renuka Swamy, has surrendered before the deputy superintendent of the police’s office in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
According to reports, Ravi, who had taken Renuka Swamy, whose body was later found, surrendered on Thursday night. Another suspect, Raghu alias Raghavendra, and others had reportedly arranged a taxi to transport Renuka Swamy to Bengaluru on June 8. All the suspects, including Darshan and his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, had boarded Ravi’s cab in Chitradurga and arrived in Bengaluru later that evening.
Following the drop-off in Bengaluru, Ravi had gone into hiding. He later contacted the taxi association in Chitradurga, who advised him to surrender to the police.
Raghu, who managed a fan club for Darshan Thoogudeepa in Chitradurga, was reportedly hired by the actor to gather information on Renuka Swamy. Renuka Swamy’s wife had claimed that he was kidnapped near their home.
Recently, CCTV camera footage surfaced, showing two cars driving away from the area where the body was dumped on the night of the murder. One of the cars is connected to the actor accused in the case.
The actor and his associates allegedly took Renuka Swamy to a shed in Bengaluru’s Kamakshipalya, where Darshan is said to have beaten him with a belt. In contrast, his associates struck him with sticks until he lost consciousness. He was then reportedly slammed against a wall, causing multiple fractures.
Darshan Thoogudeepa, popularly known as “Challenging Star,” and his associates were arrested on Tuesday for the murder of 33-year-old Renuka Swamy, a fan of the actor. Renuka Swamy, a resident of Chitradurga, had allegedly commented on the social media account of Pavithra Gowda, a small-time actress, accusing her of creating a rift between the actor and his wife.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) within a 200-metre radius of the Annapoorneshwari Nagar police station, where the suspects are being held and questioned, prohibiting public gathering.
