Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is involved in the Renuka Swamy murder case, has been denied his request for home-cooked food and other special facilities while in judicial custody. The decision was made by the Director General of Police (Prisons) and conveyed to the Karnataka High Court.
According to a report by the Deccan Herald, Darshan’s plea for home-cooked meals and additional privileges was once again formally rejected on August 14, 2024.
Earlier, in his petition, Darshan stated that he had lost several kilograms due to difficulty eating and digesting the prison food.
The rejection was communicated to Darshan’s legal team, although his senior advocate, Prabhuling Navadgi, indicated that they had not yet received the official order and requested time to review it. In response, Justice M. Nagaprasanna adjourned the hearing to September 5, 2024, giving the defense time to examine the details of the decision.
The order, issued by DGP Malini Krishnamurthy, highlighted that there have been no complaints regarding the food provided to inmates at the Central Prison, nor have there been any reports of food poisoning or nutritional deficiencies. The order also stated that no medical recommendation had been made for Darshan to receive special dietary provisions. Given the gravity of the charges against him for being accused in a murder case, the request was deemed inappropriate.
Darshan, his alleged girlfriend, Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others have been under public scrutiny for the murder of Renuka Swamy. Renuka Swamy, a 33-year-old pharmacist and fan of Darshan, allegedly made derogatory comments about Pavithra on social media, which allegedly lead the actor to have orchestrated Renuka’s murder.