33-year-old Renukaswamy’s dead body was found on June 9, 2024. He is said to have been attacked and beaten to death after he allegedly sent lewd messages to Darshan’s partner, Pavithra Gowda.
Darshan allegedly called upon his fans to accost Renukaswamy for making derogatory comments against Gowda on social media.
Darshan and his associates then allegedly beat Renukaswamy with sticks, pipes, and a belt, causing fatal head and chest injuries, leading to his death. The prosecution has claimed that Darshan and Pavithra were in constant contact during the crime.
Last week, the Karnataka High Court rejected a petition by the State to cross-examine its own witness, Renukaswamy’s mother after she made trivial inconsistencies, stray answers or insignificant omissions in her witness account.