‘No Man Above Law’: Supreme Court Scraps Actor Darshan’s Bail in Murder Case, Slams High Court Order as ‘Perverse’

The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a scathing rebuke to the Karnataka High Court, cancelling the bail granted to Kannada film star Darshan Thoogudeepa in the brutal Renukaswamy murder case. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan described the High Court’s order as “perverse,” “wholly unwarranted,” and a “serious legal infirmity,” ordering that the actor be taken back into custody immediately.

In a strongly worded decision, the top court ruled that the High Court’s order from December 13, 2024, was an “arbitrary exercise” of discretion. The judges noted that the High Court had improperly delved into witness statements, a task reserved for the trial court, and found “no legal reason to grant bail.” The bench emphasized that Darshan’s liberty posed a significant “risk of derailing the administration of justice.”

Asserting that “no man is above the law,” Justice Pardiwala issued a stern warning to jail authorities against giving the actor any preferential treatment. “The day we come to know that the accused are being given five-star treatment in jail premises, we will place the jail superintendent under suspension,” he declared, specifically cautioning against allowing Darshan to smoke or drink in prison. The court underscored that in a democracy, all individuals are subject to the same laws.

The case revolves around the gruesome murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, who was allegedly a fan of Darshan’s associate, actress Pavithra Gowda. According to police, the victim had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which allegedly led to his abduction from Chitradurga in June 2024.

He was reportedly tortured for three days in a shed in Bengaluru before he died. His body was later found dumped in a drain. The Supreme Court said the serious allegations, supported by forensic evidence, reinforced the need to cancel the actor’s bail.