BENGALURU: Kannada actor Darshan, who was among 17 persons arrested for allegedly murdering his fan S Renukaswamy, is slated to undergo surgery on Dec 11, the day his six-week interim bail granted to him on medical grounds ends.
Senior advocate CV Nagesh, who is appearing for the actor in his bail petition, informed Karnataka high court on Monday about Darshan's surgery schedule.
Justice S Vishwajith Shetty reserved his order after the completion of the hearing on bail petitions filed by Darshan, fellow accused Pavithra Gowda, and a couple of others. The judge also extended the interim bail granted to Darshan until the next date of hearing -- until the date of judgment on the bail petition.
Earlier, continuing his submissions, P Prasanna Kumar, the special public prosecutor in the case, told the court that two photographs showing the deceased pleading guilty and for mercy are available. He further stated that, as per the statement of witnesses, Dhanraj, Nandish, and Pavan (all work in Darshan's house) assaulted Renukaswamy for about 10 minutes, and Dhanraj even gave him an electric shock using a machine.
Thereafter, Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and accused No. 11 Nagaraju came there, and they also hit Renukaswamy. Their presence at the scene of the assault is established by statements and CCTV footage. The FSL report says blood was found on a vehicle bumper. Recoveries at the instance of Darshan in his voluntary statement include clothes, pant, shirt, shoes found in the photos. There is no discrepancy, he added.
Prasanna Kumar further informed the court that the deceased suffered 39 external injuries and a rib fracture.
"There is a string of prima facie material against the accused. If at all it was one injury, it was understandable. There are 39 injuries; it is a clear case of 302 of IPC and not 304 of IPC, culpable homicide not amounting to murder," the special public prosecutor argued while seeking dismissal of the petitions.
In his submission, senior advocate CV Nagesh reiterated that the report stating 39 external injuries on the body of deceased Renukaswamy is a concocted document.
"The post-mortem report says other than one bleeding injury, no other injury at all. Only one solitary injury measuring 2x5 cm to 1 cm, no other bleeding injury... After 2.5 months, it says blood oozes from external injuries. What is the basis? This is a concocted document given by the doctors to suit the case of the investigators," he further added.