In his statement to the police, mentioned in the chargesheet filed in the murder case, Kannada actor Darhsan Thogudeepa has said Renukaswamy was already tired by the time he saw him and looked like he had already been assaulted
Jailed Kannada actor Darshan Thogudeepa has admitted to assaulting Renukaswamy in his statement to the police, as is mentioned in the chargesheet filed in the murder case.
The 3,991-page chargesheet, which was accessed by CNN-News18, gives explicit details on how Darshan and his aides allegedly tortured Renukaswamy to death. It has the actor’s statement in which he has told the police that he hit the 33-year-old man on the chest, neck and head, and even asked actress Pavithra Gowda to hit him with her slipper.
“Renukaswamy was already tired by the time I saw him. It appeared like he had already been assaulted. I kicked him near his neck, chest and head. I hit him with my hands and a wooden branch. I asked Pavithra Gowda to hit him with her slipper,” he stated.
According to police sources, Pavithra, who is accused number one in the case, was the “major cause” for Renukaswamy’s murder, claiming that the probe has proven that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.
Darshan has also said one of his aides — whom he called Pradosh in his statement — took at least Rs 40 lakh from him assuring him that he will “handle the matter” and “take care of everything”.
Here are some excerpts from Darshan’s statement to the police:
“I have been in a live-in relationship with Pavithra Gowda for 10 years.”
“I found out about the kidnapping at 3 pm on June 8…”
“Pavan, who works at (both mine and Pavithra Gowda’s house), informed me about it.”
“Pavan mentioned that Renukaswamy was being held in a shed at Pattangere.”
“Pavithra, Vinay and Pradosh went to the shed in a Scorpio car at 4.30 pm.”
“Renukaswamy had already been assaulted before I arrived.”
“When asked if he sent the obscene messages, he admitted to it.”
“I asked him: ‘How can you maintain her with just a Rs 20,000 salary?'”
“I forcefully kicked his head, neck and chest.”
“I used a tree branch and my hands to assault him further.”
“I called Pavithra Gowda from the car and had her hit him with her slippers.”
“When instructed to fall at Pavithra’s feet and apologise, he complied.”
“Pavan read out the messages sent by Renukaswamy.”
“I saw the obscene photos sent by Renukaswamy, scolded him and kicked him again.”
“While leaving, some boys from Chitradurga took photos with me.”
“At 7.30 pm, Pradosh came near his house and informed me of Renukaswamy’s death.”
“While I was leaving, I asked, ‘Wasn’t he fine when I left?'”
“At 9 pm, Pradosh, Vinay, Nagaraj and Lakshman came to my house.”
“Pradosh took Rs 30 lakh from me, saying he would handle the matter.”
“Later, Pradosh returned and took another Rs 10 lakh.”
“The day after the murder, I left for Mysore for a shoot.”
“When I called Nagaraj and Pradosh, they assured me they would take care of everything.”
“On Monday night, Pradosh, Nagaraj and Vinay came to the hotel in Mysore.”
“When I inquired, they said that Nandish had strangled Renukaswamy.”
“They also mentioned that Dhanraj electrocuted him and Pavan had assaulted him.”
“They asked for more money, saying they would handle things by paying off people.”
“On June 11, while I was in a hotel room in Mysore, the police arrested me.”
The case
Only a few days ago, a picture of Renukaswamy emerged on social media, showing him shirtless and pleading for mercy before he was allegedly murdered. Police said he had sent obscene messages to Pavithra that enraged Darshan, and this could be the motive behind the murder.
The body of Renukaswamy, who claimed to be a fan of Darshan, was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Bengaluru’s Sumanahalli on June 9. Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in RR Nagar, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.
As per the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
