A sessions court in Bengaluru on Monday rejected Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa's plea seeking permission to appear physically before the court during the trial in the 2024 Renukaswamy murder case.
The court directed that the actor be produced through video conferencing instead.
Sessions Judge Sujatha M Sambhrani passed the order after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.
Darshan's counsel, Hashmath Pasha, had requested that the actor be allowed to appear in person before the cross-examination of witnesses so the court could obtain information directly from him.
Rejecting the plea, the court ordered that Darshan's participation in the proceedings would continue through video conferencing.
At the same time, the court directed prison authorities to ensure that Darshan and the other accused are provided adequate opportunities to consult their lawyers, including confidential meetings to prepare their defence.
The judge also instructed jail authorities to ensure uninterrupted audio and video quality during virtual court proceedings and directed the Registrar of the City Civil Court to supervise the necessary arrangements to prevent technical glitches.
Meanwhile, the court is also expected to decide on accused Pradosh's application seeking to turn approver in the case, along with fixing a date for recording his statement.
The case pertains to the alleged murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old pharmacy employee from Karnataka's Chitradurga district, in June 2024.
According to the investigation, Renukaswamy was allegedly abducted after he posted derogatory messages on social media targeting Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda, who is widely reported to be a close associate of Darshan.
Police alleged that Renukaswamy was lured to Bengaluru on the pretext of meeting the actor before being taken to a vehicle shed in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, where he was allegedly assaulted by Darshan, Pavithra Gowda and several others.
Investigators claimed the victim was beaten with belts, sticks, iron rods and wooden clubs, suffering multiple fractures before succumbing to his injuries.
The police further alleged that after the murder, some of the accused attempted to cover up the crime by fabricating a false motive and arranging for others to take responsibility in exchange for money.
More than 15 people, including Darshan and Pavithra Gowda, were arrested during the investigation.
The trial in the high-profile case is currently underway before the Bengaluru sessions court, with the latest order clearing the way for Darshan to continue attending proceedings virtually while the court hears evidence against the accused.
Source: India Today