Renukaswamy murder case: Victim was administered electric shock, finds probe

BENGALURU: Kannada film star Darshan Thoogudeepa is under police investigation for his alleged involvement in the murder of his fan, Renukaswamy, whose body was found near a storm-water drain in Sumanahalli on June 9. Darshan is accused of taking Rs 40 lakh from a friend to escape legal repercussions and cover up the crime. Police say the victim received electric shocks before his death, and 17 individuals, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are implicated in the case.
Renukaswamy, a fan of Darshan, reportedly sent obscene messages to Gowda, who is identified as the primary instigator of the murder. According to police, this action by Renukaswamy enraged Darshan, which allegedly led to Renukaswamy's murder. Police have also stated that Darshan and other accused -- Dhanraj D, Vinay V, and Pradosh -- were not cooperative during the investigation and attempted to withhold information.
Police have recovered Rs 37.4 lakh from Darshan's house and Rs 3 lakh that he gave to his wife. Darshan has admitted to seeking this amount from his friend Mohan Raj to avoid legal consequences and to cover up the conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
"He has not revealed from where he obtained the device and is hiding the information. He has to be probed further," police said regarding Dhanraj, who confessed to using an 'electric shock torch' on the victim. The device has been seized.
The police report suggests that Darshan contacted several individuals shortly after the murder, and further inquiry is required to determine the motive and reasons behind these communications. They also dismissed rumors that influential people attempted to interfere with the investigation.
Police have indicated that Pradosh played a key role in the destruction of evidence. "He had taken another person to the crime scene and has not revealed the identity of that person. He needs to be probed further." Pradosh allegedly disposed of the victim's and another accused's mobile phones by throwing them into a drainage. Efforts to recover the phones have been unsuccessful.
Authorities discovered Rs 4.40 lakh at Raghavendra's residence in Chitradurga. They also recovered Renukaswamy's gold ring and chain, which his mother identified. Raghavendra, a member of Darshan's fan club, reportedly lured Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar under the pretext of meeting Darshan. It was in this shed that the victim was allegedly tortured and killed.
Police believe they have collected enough evidence, including CCTV footage, to establish Darshan's presence during the assault on Renukaswamy. Items such as a lathi, wood pieces, a water bottle, blood stains, and a DVR containing the CCTV footage have all been recovered from the crime scene.
According to the autopsy report, Renukaswamy died due to shock and hemorrhage from multiple blunt injuries, further supporting the police's allegations against the accused.