SC refuses to cancel bail granted to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in murder case

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to cancel the bail granted by the Karnataka High Court to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his partner Pavitra Gowda and five others accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, PTI reported.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan was hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka government challenging the High Court’s December 13 order. The bench agreed to examine the petition and issued notice to Thoogudeepa and the others accused in the matter.

The court directed them to file their responses within four weeks, Bar and Bench reported.

“Since state is praying for cancellation of bail, it would not be proper to stay the operation of the order as it would amount to cancellation of bail,” the bench said. “Yet to protect the interest of prosecution, if any co-accused prays on bail, the court concerned shall not place reliance on the order challenged before us.”

Any bail application filed shall be decided on its own merit, it added.

Thoogudeepa was arrested on June 11 in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old man named Renukaswamy, who was his fan.

Apart from Thoogudeepa and Gowda, 15 others were booked for their alleged involvement in Renukaswamy’s murder.

Renukaswamy had allegedly been sending abusive messages and comments to Gowda. On June 9, his body was recovered from a…

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