“He Stood on His Chest and Kicked Him”: Accomplice Turns Approver, Exposes Actor Darshan’s Brutal Role in Renukaswamy Murder
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In a massive twist to the sensational Renukaswamy murder case, a key co-accused has come forward to turn approver, providing a chilling, first-person account of the brutal torture and killing of the 33-year-old victim.
Pradoosh S. Rao, a software professional and close aide of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, has filed a petition in a Bengaluru court seeking a pardon in exchange for making a “full and true disclosure” of the events that transpired on June 8, 2024. This marks the first time an eyewitness from within Darshan’s inner circle has formally detailed the horrifying extent of the actor’s alleged involvement in the crime.
The Torture Shed: A First-Person Account
Renukaswamy, an auto driver from Chitradurga and a self-proclaimed fan of Darshan, was allegedly abducted and brought to a shed in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru. The motive behind the kidnapping was allegedly a series of derogatory messages the victim had sent to Pavithra Gowda, Darshan’s co-star and girlfriend.
In his 11-page petition accessed by India Prime Times, Rao detailed the horrifying scene he witnessed upon arriving at the shed.
- The Assault: Rao claimed he found Renukaswamy sitting on the floor surrounded by several men. Darshan was allegedly verbally abusing the victim over the messages sent to Gowda.
- The Brutality: According to Rao, Darshan instructed Gowda to hit the victim with her slipper. The actor then allegedly took a nylon rope and violently assaulted Renukaswamy. Rao claimed Darshan kicked the victim repeatedly in the neck and chest before standing with both his legs squarely on Renukaswamy’s chest.
- The Warning: Rao stated that Darshan handed him the victim’s phone to check for messages to other women. During the assault, Rao claimed he explicitly warned Darshan that the continuous beatings would kill Renukaswamy, but the actor refused to stop.
Rao stated he left the shed, only to be informed later by Darshan’s driver, Lakshman, that Renukaswamy had died.
The Cover-Up and Fake Fall Guys
Following the murder, Rao alleged he visited Darshan’s residence, where the actor threatened to kill himself if Rao and the others did not cooperate in a massive cover-up.
According to the petition, Darshan orchestrated a fake narrative, claiming the murder was the result of a financial dispute. The actor allegedly produced a bag containing ₹15 lakh in cash, distributing it to two men tasked with finding “fall guys” to surrender to the police and take the blame for the murder.
The victim’s body was then loaded into a white Scorpio. After scouting for a disposal location, the group allegedly dumped Renukaswamy’s body near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru. While the hired men surrendered two days later, Rao and several others, including Darshan and Pavithra Gowda, were eventually apprehended by the police.
Darshan’s Desperate Legal Moves Blocked
Panicking over Rao’s decision to turn approver, Darshan’s legal team filed an urgent petition seeking the right to raise objections and be heard before the court decided on Rao’s pardon application.
Darshan’s counsel, Senior Advocate Hasmath Pasha, argued that not allowing a co-accused to object violated the principles of natural justice. The defense also alleged that Rao was acting out of revenge because Darshan had cut off communication with him after the Supreme Court cancelled his bail.
However, the High Court of Karnataka dismissed Darshan’s plea on Thursday, August 13. Justice M. Nagaprasanna delivered a severe setback to the actor, orally remarking, “No co-accused will ever turn approver if such a procedure is permitted.”
The High Court upheld an earlier Sessions Court ruling, stating that the law does not grant a co-accused the right to participate in or oppose an approver’s application on its merits.
What Happens Next?
Darshan, whose initial bail was cancelled by the Supreme Court, currently remains lodged in Central Prison, Bengaluru, along with Gowda and 13 other accused. The trial is ongoing before a Bengaluru sessions court, with 22 witnesses examined thus far.
If the court formally accepts Pradoosh S. Rao as an approver, his explosive eyewitness testimony will become the prosecution’s strongest weapon, potentially sealing the fate of one of the Kannada film industry’s biggest stars in this gruesome murder case.
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