Court's Comment Regarding Discretion After Bail Granted by Lower Court to Actor Darshan by the High Court
The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure with the Karnataka High Court's decision to grant bail to actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in the Renukaswamy murder case. The apex court has raised concerns about the manner in which the High Court exercised its discretion in granting bail, suggesting that the HC seemed more focused on releasing the accused without sufficient justification.
During the hearing, the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan questioned the reasoning behind the High Court's order, specifically referring to the part where the High Court appeared to be eager to find a way to release Darshan on bail rather than strictly applying legal principles. The bench instructed Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Darshan, to be ready to explain why the Supreme Court should not interfere in the Karnataka High Court's decision.
The Karnataka government challenged the bail order, and the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan asked Darshan’s lawyers to provide “good reasons” why the Supreme Court should not interfere with the decision. They conveyed serious reservations about how the High Court handled the bail plea, suggesting that the HC's discretion seemed improperly exercised.
The background of the case involves serious allegations against Darshan. Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old man and a fan of Darshan’s partner Pavithra Gowda, was allegedly abducted, tortured for three days, and then murdered. His body was dumped in a drain. The case drew attention due to the severity of the crime and accusations of undue preferential treatment to Darshan while in custody, which led to suspensions of jail officials after compromising images circulated on social media.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Darshan, disputed that the individual was a key witness. However, it was claimed that Darshan was sitting on the stage with one of the prosecution's key witnesses. The Supreme Court's displeasure was due to doubts about the legal soundness and rationale behind the Karnataka High Court’s decision to grant bail, implying that the HC seemed more focused on releasing the accused without sufficient justification when the gravity of the allegations warranted greater caution.
The bench set the matter for hearing on Tuesday. The Supreme Court's intervention in the case could potentially result in Darshan's bail being revoked or a review of the High Court's decision. The outcome of the case will be closely watched as it raises important questions about the exercise of discretion in granting bail and the role of the judiciary in high-profile cases.
Amid the ongoing legal scrutiny, the Supreme Court expressed concern about the Karnataka High Court's decision to grant bail to celebrity Darshan Thoogudeepa in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case. The apex court raised doubts about the legal soundness of the HC's decision, suggesting that the focus seemed more on releasing the actor without sufficient justification, rather than strictly applying legal principles. During the hearing, the bench specifically questioned the manner in which the general-news surrounding the case might have influenced the High Court's decision and the role of entertainment personalities in crime-and-justice proceedings.
