The Supreme Court cancelled Darshan’s bail in the Renukaswamy murder case, criticising Karnataka HC for legal flaws, citing threats to justice, and ordering an expedited trial.
The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case, sharply criticising the Karnataka High Court's order.
A bench of Justices Bh Pardiwala and R Mahadevan put aside the bail order of December 13, 2024, stating that it suffers from major legal infirmities.
"We considered everything, the grant of bail as well as cancellation. It is evident that the order of the High Court suffers from serious legal infirmities," the Supreme Court observed.
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The bench stated that the order lacked 'any special cogent reasons for granting bail under sections 203 and IPC', but reflected a 'mechanical exercise of discretion that left out some legal key facts'. It further highlighted that the High Court examined witness statements at a pre-trial stage, leading to alleged delays and contradictions.
According to the bench, granting bail in such a serious case without weighing the nature of the offence, the accused's role, and potential interference with the trial amounted to an 'unwarranted exercise of discretion'.
The apex court confirmed that well-founded allegations of witness intimidation, along with compelling forensic and circumstantial evidence, supported bail cancellation. "The liberty granted under the impugned order poses a real and imminent threat to the fair administration of justice and risks derailing the trial," it stated.
Invoking Article 14, the court emphasized, "All persons, regardless of their popularity or privilege, are equally subject to law.
Justice Pardiwala also issued a stern warning: if any evidence emerges showing the accused enjoying 'special privileges' in jail, the court would summon state officials. "However big a person may be, he cannot be above the Law. The day we know that the accused are provided with special or 5-star jail facilities, the first thing will be to put the jail superintendent under suspension," he said
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Darshan, actress Pavithra Gowda, and others are accused of abducting and murdering 33-year-old fan Renukaswamy, who allegedly sent obscene messages to Gowda. The body was found in a drain on June 9, 2024. Police named Gowda as the prime accused and Darshan as the second accused in their September 2024 chargesheet, alleging the harassment was linked to Darshan's marital discord.
The Supreme Court has now directed the trial to be fast-tracked.
