Darshan moves Karnataka High Court over physical production in Renukaswamy murder case

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has moved the Karnataka High Court against a trial court order rejecting his request to be physically produced before the court in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Darshan has sought permission to attend the proceedings in person instead of continuing through video conference.

The actor and co-accused Nagaraju had filed an application under Section 309 read with Section 273 of the CrPC, seeking physical production before the trial court. The court rejected the plea on August 17 and directed the accused to continue appearing through video conference.

Darshan’s counsel had argued that the video-conferencing facility was frequently disrupted by connectivity issues and that the large volume of records in the case required the accused to interact with his lawyers in person. The defence maintained that such interaction was necessary to ensure a fair trial.

The prosecution opposed the plea, citing provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that allow evidence to be recorded through audio-video means. It also argued that the video-conferencing arrangement had not caused any prejudice to Darshan’s defence.

The trial court noted that physically producing the accused at every hearing would require the deployment of a large number of police personnel and involve extensive logistical arrangements. It also referred to a “mob-like situation” developing in the courtroom.

The court said there had been no consistent technical problems with the video-conferencing facility and found no sufficient reason to allow physical production. It, however, directed the registry to ensure that competent staff were available to operate the system properly.

The order effectively denied physical production to Darshan and three other co-accused, prompting the actor to approach the High Court.

Darshan and his associate Pavithra Gowda were arrested in June 2024 after Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan from Chitradurga, was allegedly tortured to death over messages he had sent to Gowda, which Darshan reportedly found offensive. His body was later found in a stormwater drain in Bengaluru.

The case has 17 accused, while the prosecution has named nearly 272 witnesses, of whom around 150 are expected to depose.

The Supreme Court cancelled Darshan’s bail in May and directed that the trial proceed on a day-to-day basis.