Youth assaulted over messages, video recorded

A young man was brutally assaulted by a group of 8 to 10 individuals in Soladevanahalli, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, after he allegedly sent obscene messages to his former girlfriend. The attackers reportedly referenced the Renukaswamy murder case during the assault.

The victim, identified as Kushal, had been in a two-year relationship with a classmate. After their breakup a few months ago, the girl began dating someone else. Despite this, Kushal allegedly continued to send her inappropriate messages.

According to the Soladevanahalli police, the girl, along with her new boyfriend and his friends, lured Kushal into meeting them. They then kidnapped him in a car and took him to a secluded location, where they stripped him naked and beat him severely with wooden sticks, especially on his back and feet. The group recorded the assault, with one of the assailants drawing parallels to the Renukaswamy murder case in Chitradurga. In that case, actor Darshan and Pavithra Gowda are among the prime accused.

Kushal was also kicked in the groin, and the group threatened him to delete all messages, photos, and videos related to his ex-girlfriend. He was warned never to contact her again. The police have arrested four of the accused so far, identified as Hemant, Yashwant, Shivashankar, and Shashank Gowda. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway. Police sources say the video evidence will play a crucial role in the case. Kushal is currently recovering from his injuries.