Renukasawamy murder: How Bengaluru police cracked case, arrested actor Darshan

A coordinated operation by three top Bengaluru Police officers swiftly cracked the Renukasawamy murder case and arrested Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa through prompt action and meticulous attention to detail.

The body of Renukasawamy, a 33-year-old auto driver, was found near a flyover in Bengaluru on June 9. Within two days, on June 11, Karnataka Police arrested actor Darshan. The probe revealed Renukasawamy was kidnapped and murdered by a gang under his direction.

advertisement

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda personally supervised the case, while the probe by Deputy Commissioner (DCP) of Bengaluru West Zone S Girish brought the major breakthrough in the case. Assistant Commissioner Chandan Kumar arrested the actor. B Dayananda, Bengaluru Police Commissioner.

It was S Girish's probe that established Darshan's link to the murder. He quickly identified inconsistencies in the statements of three men who surrendered to the police, admitting their involvement in the murder.

The initial puzzle for Girish was why four men from Bangalore had killed a victim from Chitradurga, located 200 kilometres away. DCP Girish detected flaws in their accounts, leading the investigation to Vinay V, a restaurant owner in RR Nagar, Bengaluru.

Vinay informed the DCP that Darshan was irked over Renukasawamy's social media remarks about his wife, actor Pavithra Gowda, and that Renukasawamy had been tortured at Darshan's behest. Further investigation unearthed a CCTV footage linking vehicles associated with Darshan near the crime scene. S Girish, Deputy Commissioner (DCP) of Bengaluru West Zone.

With Darshan's connection established, the police decided to arrest the actor.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vijayanagara, Chandan Kumar, was tasked with arresting Darshan in Mysore.

Chandan arrived at the Mysore hotel where Darshan was staying early on the morning of June 11. Despite Darshan's insistence on travelling in his own vehicle, the ACP rejected his request and forced him into the police vehicle.

Chandan told the actor, "You are an accused. You don’t have a choice. Either you come in the police car, or we won’t hesitate to hold your collar and push you inside. Shut up and get in the car". Chandan Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vijayanagara

There has been alleged pressure from political circles, influential people, and Darshan's fan groups to go soft on the actor. However, under the supervision of Commissioner B Dayananda, the case was resolved within days. He guided Girish and Kumar through the investigation and also went to personally inspect the evidence to ensure the case was watertight.

The police team also analysed technical data, including mobile tower locations and call recordings.

The investigation revealed that Renukasawamy had allegedly made derogatory comments about Gowda on social media, accusing her of causing a rift between Darshan and his wife.

One of the accused, Raghavendra, a member of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, lured Renukasawamy to a shed in RR Nagar under the pretext of a meeting with Darshan. It was here that Renukasawamy was tortured and killed. Darshan himself assaulted the victim, the probe revealed.

Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and 12 of their associates have been arrested in connection with the murder. On Saturday, a Bengaluru court extended the police custody of the actor, Pavithra, and others by five more days, until June 20.

Published By: Ajmal Published On: Jun 15, 2024