Darshan case: Gaurav Shetty on the run after threatening key Renukaswamy murder case witness

The Kamakshipalya police have intensified their investigation into allegations of threats made against a key witness in the Renukaswamy murder case, in which Kannada actors Pavithra Gowda and Darshan are among the accused. According to Kannada news articles, a man named Puneeth has already been arrested on charges of threatening the witness. A forensic science laboratory (FSL) report has confirmed that key accused Gaurav Shetty and Kiran Reddy were in contact with him.

As per the FSL report, the accused made the threats through WhatsApp calls. In connection with the development, the police picked up three men identified as Puneeth, Venu, and Suhas for interrogation. However, as soon as Puneeth was arrested, Gaurav Shetty and Kiran Reddy went into hiding, a news report said.

Both Gaurav and Kiran have switched off their mobile phones to avoid being tracked by the police, TV9 Kannada said in a report.

Meanwhile, Pradosh, one of the key accused, has reportedly filed an application before the court expressing his willingness to turn approver in the case. Legal proceedings are underway to determine whether he can be made an approver, TV9 Kannada said in a report. A court order on the matter is expected soon.

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When asked whether he had filed the application voluntarily, Pradosh said yes. If the court allows Pradosh to turn approver, Darshan will find himself in a tougher situation. His lawyer objected to the application, the report added.

33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan and allegedly prompted him to plan and execute his murder.

Renukaswamy's body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9. One of the accused, Raghavendra, who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, brought the fellow admirer of Darshan to a shed in R R Nagar in Bengaluru on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that Renukaswamy was allegedly tortured and murdered.

According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries. Police sources said Pavithra Gowda, who is accused number one, was the major cause for Renukaswamy's murder. They said that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated the other accused, conspired with them, and also took part in the crime.