Karnataka High Court grants interim bail for 6 weeks to actor Darshan to undergo surgery

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted interim bail for six weeks to jailed actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Single-judge Justice S Vishwajith Shetty allowed the interim bail application filed by Darshan to enable him to undergo a surgery.

Another application filed by Darshan seeking regular bail, challenging the trial court's order denying him bail in the case, is pending hearing before the High Court.

The High Court directed Darshan to surrender his passport before the trial court.

It permitted Darshan to consult a doctor "of his choice" and to submit the doctor's opinion, with details of the recommended surgery, hospital admission etc, before the High Court within a week.

Justice Shetty had reserved orders on Darshan's interim bail plea on October 28 after hearing extensive arguments by Senior Advocate S Nagesh and State Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar.

Darshan was arrested on June 11 and is currently lodged in the Ballari Prison. He had filed the bail application on September 21. 

The dead body of 33-year-old auto-driver Renukaswamy was found on June 9. It is alleged that he died owing to injuries sustained in an attack carried out on Darshan's instructions. The actor allegedly called upon his fans to accost Renukaswamy for making derogatory comments against his partner, Pavithra Gowda, on social media.

The State had earlier submitted medical reports by doctors from the Bellary Central Prison and the head of department, neurology at the Bellary government hospital.

The Court had noted the medical reports recommended that Darshan should undergo a surgery to address medical issues related to his spine and feet.

Nagesh had urged the Court to allow Darshan to undergo surgery at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru. Nagesh submitted that Darshan will undertake to pay for all medical expenses incurred at the private facility.

However, Darshan’s application for interim bail was opposed by the State Public Prosecutor (SPP).

SPP Kumar told the Court that while the actor’s medical reports recommended surgery, it did not provide specifics of how many days will Darshan have to be admitted at the hospital. Kumar also insisted that Darshan undergo the surgery at a government hospital and that he first be examined by a medical board.