The Karnataka High Court has upheld the bail granted to five individuals accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, which also involves actor Darshan Thoogudeepa. The decision was made by Justice S Rachaiah, who, on June 10, dismissed the petitions filed by the State of Karnataka seeking the cancellation of bail for Puttaswamy alias Pavan K, Raghavendra N, Nandeesh, Dhanraj alias Raju alias Dhanaraju D, and V Vinay, the respondents in the case.
Judicial Rationale
Justice Rachaiah articulated that the Supreme Court’s earlier decision to revoke bail for the prime accused, actor Darshan, and other co-accused, cannot be indiscriminately applied to the remaining accused. The Court emphasized that the respondents are not celebrities or influential figures and have not breached their bail terms. “The respondents herein are neither celebrities nor influential persons. Furthermore, they have not violated the bail conditions nor have they misused the liberty granted to them,” the Court stated.
Furthermore, the Court elaborated that simply being linked to high-profile individuals does not warrant bail cancellation. “It is needless to state that the cases of either celebrities or the common man must be treated equally to render justice,” Justice Rachaiah asserted.
The Case Background
The case revolves around the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, whose body was discovered near a storm-water drain on June 9, 2024. The prosecution alleges that actor Darshan orchestrated the murder following inappropriate messages sent by Renukaswamy to Darshan’s close associate, actress Pavitra Gowda.
As the investigation unfolded, three men confessed to police involvement, leading to charges against 17 individuals, including Darshan and Pavitra Gowda. While both were initially granted bail, the Supreme Court later revoked it, citing issues related to their celebrity status and potential witness tampering.
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The High Court Proceedings
The recent High Court proceedings focused on five other accused who had been granted bail by a trial court on December 23, 2024. Seeking revocation of this bail, the State referenced the Supreme Court’s August 2025 decision, which canceled bail for the actors. The State argued that the respondents shared a common intent to murder Renukaswamy, as evidenced by the post-mortem revealing 39 external injuries and eyewitness accounts.
Representing the accused, Advocate Ranganath Reddy opined that bail cancellation is a grave matter involving personal liberty and cannot be justified without compelling reasons. He contended that the case’s notoriety due to celebrity involvement should not influence bail decisions, especially when the respondents had adhered to the bail conditions.
Conclusion
The Court highlighted the legal principle that bail is the standard, while jail is the exception, stressing that each bail application must be evaluated on its merits. Acknowledging the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the Court maintained that personal liberty should only be restricted under compelling circumstances. Consequently, the plea for bail cancellation was dismissed.
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Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar P represented the State, while Advocates Ranganath Reddy, K Rama Singh, Gaurav HS, and Narayana Swamy G appeared for the respondents.
