A Bengaluru court has pardoned Pradosh S Rao, a key suspect in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case, allowing him to become an approver. This development was confirmed on August 25 by LVIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Sujata Madiwalappa Sambrani. The pardon was granted under Section 307 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which empowers courts to offer pardon to an accused individual contingent on full disclosure of facts surrounding the alleged crime.
The case has gathered significant media attention due to the involvement of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is listed as the primary accused. The court’s decision to accept Pradosh Rao as an approver is conditional. Rao must provide a complete and truthful account of the events surrounding the murder. Furthermore, he is required to remain in custody until the trial concludes. Should the court detect any falsehoods or concealed facts in his testimony, Rao’s status will revert to that of an accused.
This legal maneuver could prove pivotal for the prosecution, potentially offering critical insights into the circumstances leading to Renukaswamy’s death. The court’s decision follows the Karnataka High Court’s August 13 ruling, which denied actor Darshan’s request to challenge Rao’s application to become an approver.
The tragic incident occurred on June 9, 2024, when the body of 33-year-old Renukaswamy was discovered. Reports suggest that Renukaswamy was brutally attacked after allegedly sending inappropriate messages to Darshan’s partner, Pavithra Gowda. It is alleged that Darshan incited his fans to confront Renukaswamy over derogatory remarks made about Gowda on social media. The prosecution claims that Darshan, along with associates, assaulted Renukaswamy with sticks, pipes, and a belt, resulting in fatal injuries to his head and chest.
In a related development, the Karnataka High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by the State to re-examine Renukaswamy’s mother, a witness in the case. The court found no substantial reason to allow the cross-examination, despite minor inconsistencies and trivial omissions in her testimony.
