Charges framed against actor Darshan, others in Renukaswamy murder case
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Bengaluru (PTI): A Sessions Court on Monday formally framed charges, including murder and kidnapping, against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his associate Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.
All 17 accused pleaded not guilty, paving the way for the trial to commence on November 10.
The courtroom was packed during the proceedings here, prompting Judge I P Naik to express displeasure over the crowding.
"How can charges be framed with so many people here?" he remarked, instructing lawyers not involved in the case to leave.
The judge also cautioned that the hearing would be postponed—or even held in-camera—if order was not maintained.
Once calm was restored, the court began reading the charges, starting with the first accused, Pavithra Gowda.
The charges included murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful assembly.
According to the charge sheet, Renukaswamy had allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavitra, following which he was kidnapped, brought to a shed in Bengaluru, and assaulted.
"He was beaten with slippers and a wooden plank, resulting in fatal injuries," the judge stated while reading the charges.
The prosecution alleged that Pavithra struck Renukaswamy with a slipper, while Darshan assaulted him after forcing him to remove his pants, leading to his death. The court also noted that some accused were allegedly offered money to take the blame.
After all 17 accused declined to plead guilty, the court completed the formal signing of the charge documents.
Darshan, Pavithra, and seven other accused were then escorted back to prison.
The next hearing, marking the beginning of the trial, is scheduled for November 10.
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CM launches poster campaign 'Justice for Karnataka'
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday released nine posters as part of a campaign: ‘Justice for Karnataka. Fair Share–Strong Federalism’ asking the Centre to heed state's demands.
These posters highlight key demands placed before the Finance Commission: Restoring Karnataka’s fair tax share; correcting unjust income, population and GSDP criteria; ensuring fair disaster and ecological support; strengthening decentralisation; providing dedicated infrastructure support for Bengaluru; supporting backward regions like Kalyana Karnataka; and upholding the constitutional spirit of cooperative federalism, Siddaramaiah said.
In a statement, Siddaramaiah said his government has placed its legitimate and constitutionally grounded demands before the 16th Finance Commission, seeking justice in tax devolution and fiscal federalism.
“We hope that the 16th Finance Commission reflects these concerns fairly in its recommendations, and that the Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi implements them in letter and spirit, without subjecting Karnataka to petty politics or discrimination, as has unfortunately happened in the past,” the chief minister said.
Siddaramaiah underlined that Karnataka is among the country’s highest contributors to national revenues, yet its share in tax devolution was earlier reduced from 4.71 per cent to 3.64 per cent causing a loss of nearly Rs 80,000 crore.
"Flawed formulas that penalise development and population control, unrealistic GSDP calculations, inadequate disaster support, unchecked cesses and surcharges, denial of GST compensation, and non-release of recommended grants have collectively weakened the state’s finances," Siddaramaiah charged.
