Bengaluru: Kannada actor Darshan Toogudeepa, who is in judicial custody in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, has petitioned the Karnataka High Court seeking a direction to the prison authorities to allow him home-cooked food in the jail. He has also sought cutlery, clothing, bedding, and books.

In his petition, he has also noted that he has lost weight by several kilograms as he is unable to eat and digest the food provided at the prison.

It is also mentioned that the actor suffered from diarrhoea and the prison doctors suspected food poisoning.

According to the petitioner, Section 30 of the Karnataka Prisons Act, 1963, allows undertrial prisoners to receive these materials subject to examination and to such rules as may be approved by IGP (Prisons). The petition is yet to be listed for hearing.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Darshan's close friend Pavithra Gowda, a co-accused in the case, which enraged the actor, allegedly leading to his murder.

His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9. 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 on June 8.

According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries. 

Police sources said Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamy's murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime. 

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Chennai (PTI): Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam chief Vijay is all set to meet on Monday farmers and people likely to be affected by the proposed Parandur airport project near here, to express solidarity with them, and he is expected to take on the ruling DMK which is keen on project implementation.

Vijay's visit, proposed to take place later in the day, would be the first such exercise for him after forming the party last year and it would be on the 910th day of protest against the project, according to the Parandur struggle committee (Parandur Pasumai Vimana Nilaya Thitta Ethirppu Poratta Kuzhu), spearheading the protest.

"Vendam Vimana Nilayam, Vendum Vivasayam," (Don't need airport, need agriculture) the committee wrote on the black board displayed prominently on the wall of the temple at Ekanapuram village, an activity done everyday without fail, for over 2 years now.

In view of the proposed interaction, the sleepy villages near Sriperumbudur witness busy activity and the area teemed with vehicles and people.

According to the committee, Vijay would be meeting farmers and people from 13 villages at a marriage hall as police have 'denied' permission to hold the interaction at Ekanapuram Dr Ambedkar ground citing security reasons. TVK general secretary N Anand and functionaries of the party have inspected the venue of the proposed meet.

Vehicle arrangements have been made to facilitate the people from all the 13 villages to meet TVK chief at the designated venue, the panel said. Fifty-year old Vijay formed his party in 2024 and held a big public meeting at Vikravandi, billed as a show of strength, and the party had already made it clear that its goal is to win the 2026 Assembly election and form the government.