Bengaluru court rejects actor Darshan’s application for home cooked food and books

A magistrate court in Bengaluru on Thursday rejected a plea filed by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is in judicial custody in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, seeking access to home-cooked food, bedding and books to read..24th ACMM court judge Vishwanath C Gowdar dismissed the application that Darshan had filed following the Karnataka High Court’s suggestion that he approach the magistrate court first, before seeking relief from the High Court..Counsel for Darshan argued that the actor needs a high-protein diet to maintain his physique, and that the food served in prison was causing him digestive issues..The Court considered a medical report stating that Darshan was facing general weakness and the chief medical officer in prison had advised him rest and nutritious food. The medical officer, however, did not recommend any special diet or medical diet, the Court noted.This, coupled with the fact that Darshan was facing murder charges, led the Court to hold,“This court is justified to hold that prima facie, at this stage of proceedings, the report of the Chief Medical Officer dated 22.07.2024 does not warrant the interference by this court with respect to the food being provided to him. That apart, this court is also of the view that the accused number 2 (Darshan) is not entitled to the relief sought for in the IA pursuant Rule 728 of the Karnataka Prisons and correctional Services Manual, 2021, as he is facing allegations of murder.".In his plea before the High Court, Darshan said that the prison authorities were denying him access to these things even though Sections 30 and 32 of the Karnataka Prisons Act permit civil prisoners and undertrials to maintain themselves and can get access to food and bedding from outside..On July 19, Justice SR Krishna Kumar refused to grant any interim relief. The judge had said that it was better that Darshan went to the magistrate court first, just as how Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had approached the Rouse Avenue Court to ask for home cooked food, medication etc.The High Court, however, had kept Darshan’s petition pending so that the same could be heard if he failed to get relief from the magistrate court..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 alleged partner, Pavithra Gowda, on social media..[Read Order]