The Supreme Court of India again denied bail to Kannada actor Darshan Thogudeepa in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case. It is the second time his bail request has been rejected and the court of appeals is taking it further seriously in this case.
The bench, in its decision on 3 July 2026, said the trial must be fast‑tracked and conducted on a day‑to‑day basis. The Karnataka government was ordered to conduct 60 key witnesses' examination within the next 12 months. Darshan can apply for bail only if the trial is not progressing in a significant way during this period, it said.
The case arises from the alleged abduction and murder in June 2024 of Renukaswamy, a 33‑year‑old fan from Chitradurga. Reports say that Renukaswamy sent abusive messages to actress Pavithra Gowda, who is close to Darshan. Darshan and Pavithra are accused of murder, conspiracy, and kidnapping while several others have been arrested.
Despite charges being framed in November 2025, only 10 of the prosecution’s 272 witnesses had been examined over seven months. This slow pace was noted by the Supreme Court and it warned against unnecessary adjournments and the trial was to be conducted efficiently.
The decision is a major disappointment to Darshan, who remains in custody. His lawyers tried to gain bail because he was in prison for so long, but the court held that justice must not be delayed. The Karnataka High Court has also been asked to take on administrative responsibilities as the presiding officer of the trial court is now having to take on additional responsibilities because of vacancies.
Finally, the Supreme Court’s decision on July 3, 2026, to reject Darshan’s bail plea is to show their resolve to hold the Renukaswamy murder case fast. With strict directions to fast‑track witness examination, the court has made it clear that delays are not tolerated; Darshan will remain in prison until significant progress is made.
