South Actress Got Dirty Messages From Fan, Boyfriend Allegedly Killed Him, Both Now In Jail

For almost two years now, Kannada actors Pavithra Gowda and Darshan are in jail. Why? They are accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. While Gowda is Accused No. 1 in the case, Darshan is Accused No. 2. But what is the case all about? Let’s find out.

According to police investigations, Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga, was reportedly abducted and brutally assaulted in June 2024. His body was later recovered from a drain in Bengaluru, triggering a high-profile criminal probe.

It was alleged that Renuka used to send vulgar messages to Kannada actress Pavithra Gowad. Angry about this, he was murdered and his dead body was allegedly thrown in a canal at Kamaksshipalya, Bengaluru in front of Darshan.

In one of the previous court hearings, Darshan’s lawyer called Renukaswamy ‘vulgar’ and said, “Renukaswamy had no respect for women and was a threat to the moral fabric of society.”

However, Renukaswamy’s wife denied claims that her late husband used to send derogatory messages to anyone. “My husband called me on June 8 afternoon. If my husband had sent derogatory messages on social media, he should have been given a warning. What was the need to kill him,” she said and then added, “Whether he is an actor (Darshan) or a star, I want justice.”

Police claim that Darshan, along with a group of aides, conspired to abduct Renukaswamy and subject him to severe physical torture. Investigators believe the victim was held at a private location where he was assaulted over a sustained period. Darshan was arrested in connection with the case after several suspects reportedly confessed and named him as a key conspirator. His bail plea was also rejected multiple times.

In the 3991-page chargesheet filed by Bengaluru Police, Gowda and Darshan have been named as accused among with 15 other people. Pavithra was also arrested by the Bengaluru police in August 2025 and since then, she is in jail.

Recently, Pavithra was reprimanded by the Karnataka High Court for allegedly using headphones in jail. She appeared before the court via video conference on August 13, but was questioned after she reportedly appeared late and was allegedly seen wearing headphones. While she denied using them, the judge did not accept her explanation and sought a written clarification from jail authorities.

In December 2024, the Karnataka High Court granted Darshan regular bail in the Renukaswamy murder case. However, later in 2025, the Supreme Court of India cancelled his bail, agreeing with the state’s challenge. Following this, he was taken back into custody.