'A High Court judge committing such a mistake?': SC on actor Darshan's bail in Renukaswamy murder

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on the Karnataka government’s petition against the bail granted by the High Court to actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case.

 

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan directed the lawyers appearing for some of the accused to file written submissions in a week.

 

During the hearing, the court asked whether the state had any evidence to corroborate the statement of two eyewitnesses. It also raised serious concerns about the manner in which the High Court exercised discretion in granting bail to the accused persons.

 

Justice Pardiwala, though in a lighter vein, remarked that the High Court had given a judgement of acquittal in favour of the accused.

 

“The manner in which the High Court has dictated the order, very sorry to say, but does the High Court dictate the same type of orders in all bail applications?,” the top court asked.

 

“What is troubling us is the approach of the High Court! Look at the manner in which bail application is [dealt] and in the last, he says grounds of arrest not assigned in 302 matter! That is the understanding of the learned judge? And that too from the High Court? We can understand a session judge committing such mistakes. A High Court judge committing such a mistake?,” Justice Pardiwala was quoted as saying by Live Law.

 

Darshan, along with actress Pavithra Gowda and several others, is accused of abducting and torturing 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan who allegedly sent obscene messages to Pavithra. 

 

His body was later recovered from a drain in June 2024. 

 

The high court on December 13, 2024, granted bail to Darshan and other co-accused, following which, the state government approached the top court.

India