Kannada superstar Darshan Thoogudeepa has been in custody for the past 10 days, after his arrest on 11th June. The actor, along with 16 others, has been implicated in the murder of Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old fan whose body was found in a drain. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda described the murder as “brutal and barbaric,” emphasising the severity of the crime.
The motive behind the crime is believed to be Renukaswamy’s alleged lewd messages to actress Pavithra Gowda, who has been linked to Darshan and is also among those arrested. Charges against the suspects include murder, kidnapping, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy. The celeb, currently in jail, has denied the allegations through his lawyer, Ranganath Reddy, who asserts the case is built on circumstantial evidence without direct proof against the actor.
Darshan, known as the most bankable star in the Kannada film industry, has starred in around 60 films, many of which have been major hits. Film critic S. Shiva Kumar notes the actor’s immense popularity, with fans idolising him to the extent of pouring milk on his hoardings during new releases. Producer Yogish Dwarakish highlights Darshan’s ability to guarantee extraordinary box-office openings, with his latest film “Kaatera” grossing over 1 billion rupees.
Despite the serious accusations, the industry’s reaction has been largely muted. This silence may be attributed to the substantial financial stakes involved, as approximately 1.5 billion rupees (RM 84.7 million) are riding on Darshan’s ongoing projects. The actor’s previous arrest in 2011 for domestic violence, which did little to dampen his career, serves as a precedent for his resilient popularity.
Industry insiders like Mr. Yogish stress the importance of a fair legal trial over a media trial, urging the public to withhold judgment until all facts are presented in court. He acknowledges the significant impact of Darshan’s arrest on the industry but maintains that premature calls for a ban are unwarranted.
The case remains under investigation with the Kannada film community and fans closely watching as events unfold. What are your thoughts on this issue?
Source: BBC
Jade Mary contributed to this article.
