Kannada actor Darshan thanks fans for supporting him during his time in jail
Bengaluru (PTI): Speaking out for the first time after his release from prison on bail in the Renukaswamy murder case, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa Saturday thanked his fans for their support and affection during the difficult times.
Darshan (47) and his friend actress Pavithra Gowda are among the 17 accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. He, Gowda and a few other accused in the case were granted bail by the high court on December 13 last year while others were granted bail earlier.
Darshan was already out on interim bail for medical reasons when the high court granted him bail.
The actor was arrested on June 11 last year for allegedly killing Renukaswamy, his fan, on June 8 for sending obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda.
On Saturday, Darshan requested his fans not to queue up outside his residence on his birthday on February 16, saying his health condition doesn't allow him to meet his fans who gather there.
"I would like to thank all my beloved celebrities (fans) for their love and support. Should I say Namaskara or thanks? No matter what I say, it won't be enough. You have shown so much affection towards me, I don't know how to return it," Darshan said in a video posted on X.
Noting he too had the desire to meet and personally thank everyone who comes to wish on his birthday like every year, he said, "But this time the only problem is my health issue, nothing else. I cannot stand for long and thank everyone... whenever I take an injection for 15-20 days I will be okay and once its power reduces, the pain starts. I will have to undergo an operation."
Assuring his fans that he would meet them soon, he said, "I will need to consult my doctors on what to do next. You know about spinal cord problems."
Pointing at movie projects he had accepted, the actor said, "I thank all my producers who waited for me. I should not do injustice to them, as they too would have planned other projects. So I'm trying to push myself."
He also said that he has returned the advance given by producer Soorappa Babu for a film.
According to police, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9 last year.
Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar here, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.
According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, had died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
