Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 10: Actor Darshan, already embroiled in the high-profile fan murder case, has stirred a fresh controversy by appearing at a movie premiere while skipping a court hearing the previous day, citing severe back pain.
The actor, who is the second accused in the murder of his fan Renukaswamy, was seen attending the premiere of the Kannada film Vamana on April 9, drawing further attention and criticism. What raised more eyebrows was his public appearance alongside actor Chikkanna — a witness in the ongoing case — which could be deemed a violation of bail conditions, as the law prohibits interaction between an accused and a witness while out on bail.
Darshan was seen limping into a Bengaluru mall around 8 pm for the premiere, where hundreds of fans had gathered to cheer him on. Despite claiming back pain as the reason for his absence from the court proceedings on April 8, the actor remained at the venue for the entire three-hour film, which features his close friend Dhanveer Gowda in the lead role.
The Civil and Sessions Court hearing the fan murder case had taken serious note of Darshan’s absence, rejecting the exemption request filed by his legal team. The judge instructed that Darshan must be present for all future hearings without fail, expressing clear dissatisfaction over his non-appearance.
Among the 17 accused in the case, only Darshan was absent on April 8. The remaining 16, including the prime accused Pavithra Gowda — said to be Darshan’s associate — were present in court.
Sources suggest that Darshan’s demanding film schedule, which resumed after his release from judicial custody on October 30, 2024, may be contributing to his health issues. Since his release, he has been shooting for his upcoming film Devil in Mysuru and Rajasthan, with plans to continue filming in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Police Department, which has challenged Darshan’s bail in the Supreme Court, is expected to take serious note of the latest incident. The Supreme Court had earlier issued notices to Darshan, Pavithra, and five others in response to the state government's appeal against the bail order.
The fan murder case, which shocked the state in June 2024, revolves around the kidnapping and brutal killing of Renukaswamy from Chitradurga. The fan had reportedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, angered by Darshan’s relationship with her despite being married to Vijayalakshmi.
Investigations revealed that Pavithra allegedly pressured Darshan for public appearances and competed with Vijayalakshmi over material possessions, triggering conflicts that spilled over onto social media. These online confrontations split Darshan's fan base into factions, with Renukaswamy voicing his support for Vijayalakshmi. His criticism of Pavithra is believed to have led to his murder.
The Supreme Court, while granting bail earlier, had instructed the accused to appear before it every month. The recent developments, however, may now prompt stricter scrutiny from both law enforcement and the judiciary.