Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (October 29) reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa seeking interim bail for his surgery to be performed at a private hospital.
Justice S Vishwajith Shetty is likely to pronounce its order on Darshan’s plea on Wednesday.
Darshan moved the High Court following dismissal of his bail plea by a trial court. He has sought to be released on interim bail to receive treatment for his ailments. Darshan is currently lodged in judicial custody in Ballari Central Prison as an accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. He, his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others are accused in the murder case of 33-year-old Renukaswamy.
High Court earlier sought Darshan’s medical records
The court had earlier asked state authorities concerned to produce medical records of Darshan after his counsel urged for his release on bail citing his spine-related ailments.
The State presented Darshan’s medical reports in a sealed cover from doctors at Ballari Central Prison and the Head of the Department of Neurology at a government hospital in Ballari.
The counsel representing Darshan claimed before the court that he is experiencing numbness in both feet and urged the court for permission for his surgery to be performed at a private hospital in Mysuru, with him covering all associated costs.
Prosecution opposed Darshan’s plea
The prosecution opposed Darshan’s interim bail plea, submitting that Darshan’s medical documents lacked specifics on how many days he would need to be hospitalised. The prosecution further said that his surgery could be performed at a government hospital.
The court, while referring to Supreme Court precedents mentioned by Darshan’s lawyer, pointed out that the State does not have the authority to dictate where an undertrial may receive medical treatment. However, it questioned Darshan’s lawyer on the choice of Mysuru for the surgery.
“Why Mysuru? Let a doctor in Bengaluru examine you and provide an assessment of the surgery’s urgency and duration. Interim bail is time-limited, and we need to understand how long you would be hospitalised,” Justice Shetty said, news agency PTI reported.
Darshan’s lawyer reiterated his request for the operation to be done at the Mysuru facility, while the prosecution suggested that he undergo a health evaluation by a state-appointed medical board.
Darshan was arrested in the case on June 11
Renukaswamy allegedly made derogatory comments against Darshan’s froend Pavithra on social media, which allegedly enraged the actor and led to his murder. Darshan was arrested in the case on June 11. The Bengaluru Police filed a 3,991-page preliminary charge sheet in the murder case in a city court on September 4.
