Supreme Court questions Darshan’s bail grant

CH NEWS

The Supreme Court of India has reserved its order on a plea filed by the Karnataka government seeking cancellation of bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan, a prime accused in the brutal murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. The case, which has sparked widespread outrage across Karnataka and beyond, involves serious allegations of torture and murder.

On December 13, 2024, the Karnataka High Court granted bail to Darshan and a few co-accused. However, the state government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, calling it a grave error in judicial discretion.

A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan heard detailed arguments from both sides on Thursday. While reserving its judgment, the bench expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the High Court handled the bail hearing. The judges remarked that the High Court’s decision appeared to be a “perverse exercise of judicial power” and questioned whether similar approaches were used in other cases.

In a particularly sharp observation, one of the judges commented, “A trial court judge making such a mistake is acceptable… but a High Court judge?” The court has also directed some of the accused to submit their written arguments within a week. In a dramatic moment during the proceedings, the bench also criticized the lawyer representing Pavitra, a woman linked to the case, stating, “You are the root cause of the problem.” The final verdict on Darshan’s bail status is expected in the coming weeks.