On Wednesday, the Bengaluru Police filed a detailed chargesheet against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 17 other individuals in connection with the brutal murder of Renukaswamy. The chargesheet, prepared after an exhaustive investigation, was presented to the court of the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand addressed the media, highlighting that the chargesheet reflects a meticulous and thorough inquiry into the case. The document comprises 3,991 pages, distributed across seven volumes and ten files, and incorporates statements from 231 witnesses. This evidence is bolstered by technical and electronic data, affirming the robustness of the investigation.
One of the most shocking revelations in the chargesheet is the use of a megger machine, typically employed for measuring insulation resistance, to administer electric shocks to Renukaswamy's private parts. This act of cruelty was among the many details disclosed by the chargesheet.
The investigation has identified 17 individuals currently under judicial custody. Among the crucial elements of the case are three direct eyewitnesses and 27 additional witnesses who have testified in court. Further statements have been recorded by the police, with various materials sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad. While reports from the FSL have been received, some reports from the CFSL are still awaited.
Police sources have confirmed that call detail records and tower location data from the accused's mobile phones verify their presence at the crime scene. Bloodstains from Renukaswamy were discovered on the clothing of some accused individuals, including Pavitra Gowda. This critical evidence, validated by FSL reports, underscores the involvement of the accused in the murder.
Pavitra Gowda has been identified as the principal suspect in the case. The investigation reveals that she played a central role in conspiring and inciting the other accused, thereby being instrumental in the crime.
The chargesheet also records the involvement of 56 police officers as witnesses. It notes that the charges against the 17 accused are substantiated by eyewitness testimonies, along with circumstantial, technical, scientific, and other evidence gathered throughout the investigation. This evidence has been submitted to the court in accordance with Section 173(8) of the CrPC.
In addition to the incriminating evidence, the chargesheet details the concealment of items used by Darshan, including clothes, shoes, and money, which were hidden to shield him from scrutiny. Photographs of Renukaswamy’s body, recovered from a mobile phone belonging to one of the accused, depict the crime scene post-mortem and were shared among key suspects.