Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (October 30) granted six-week interim bail to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa on medical grounds.
Darshan, who is an accused in the Renukaswamy murder case had moved the High Court seeking interim bail for his surgery to be performed at a private hospital. His bail plea was earlier rejected by a trial court.
Court directed Darshan to surrender his passport
Justice S Vishwajith Shetty, while granting Darshan six-week interim bail, directed him to appear before the hospital of his choice and submit a report of his medical condition, including details of treatment he would undergo, to the court within one week. The court also directed him to surrender his passport.
The High Court earlier on Tuesday reserved its verdict on Darshan’s interim bail application after hearing arguments and going through his medical reports submitted by the State.
The State had presented Darshan’s medical reports before the court in a sealed cover from doctors at Ballari Central Prison and the Head of the Department of Neurology at a government hospital in Ballari.
Actor experiencing numbness in both feet, Darshan’s counsel told High Court
Darshan’s counsel submitted before the High Court that the actor experiencing numbness in both feet and had urged the bench for permission for his surgery to be performed at a private hospital in Mysuru, with him covering all associated costs.
Prosecution opposed Darshan’s interim bail plea
The prosecution opposed Darshan’s interim bail plea and had submitted that medical documents of Darshan lacked specifics on how many days he would need to be hospitalised and had further said that his surgery could be performed at a government hospital.
Darshan is currently lodged in judicial custody in Ballari Central Prison
Darshan, who is currently lodged in judicial custody in Ballari Central Prison as an accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, was arrested in the case on June 11. Besides Darshan, his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 others are also accused in the murder case of 33-year-old Renukaswamy.
Bengaluru Police filed a chargesheet in the case on September 4
Renukaswamy, who is stated to be a fan of the actor, allegedly made derogatory comments against Darshan’s friend Pavithra on social media, which allegedly enraged Darshan and led to his murder. The Bengaluru Police on September 4 filed a 3,991-page preliminary charge sheet in the murder case in a city court.
