Bengaluru police filed a chargesheet on September 4, 2024, against Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 16 others in the murder case of Renukaswamy. The filing set out the prosecution’s allegations; it was not a verdict. The latest court-status information covered here is a Supreme Court order dated May 15, 2026, which said the trial was moving slowly and directed regular witness examination.
What the September 2024 chargesheet contained
The police filed the chargesheet before the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Bengaluru on September 4, 2024. The Indian Express reported that the filing ran to 3,991 pages in eight volumes and included forensic reports. Its report at the time said police had identified 231 witnesses. The Indian Express report on the filing.
The Supreme Court’s later account identifies Pavithra Gowda as Accused No. 1 and Darshan as Accused No. 2. The case concerns the death of Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga. The court says the initial complaint was filed on June 9, 2024, after a body was found near a drainage area in Bengaluru’s Sumanahalli; the complaint named unknown persons and invoked Sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code. Supreme Court judgment, August 14, 2025.
What the prosecution alleges
In its summary of the prosecution’s case, the Supreme Court says Renukaswamy allegedly began sending obscene messages to Gowda’s Instagram account in February 2024. The prosecution alleges that Gowda, Darshan and others conspired to trace, kidnap and murder him. These remain allegations to be tested at trial, not findings that the accused are guilty.
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The Supreme Court judgment records several IPC provisions in relation to the respondents whose bail was under consideration, including murder (Section 302), criminal conspiracy (120B), kidnapping-related provisions (including Section 364), destruction of evidence (201), and unlawful assembly and rioting provisions (Sections 143 and 147–149). The provisions were accused-specific; the judgment does not establish that every charge applied identically to all 17 accused. The court also noted that the postmortem report described 39 injuries, including 13 bleeding injuries and 17 fractured ribs. These are details in the judicial record, not a determination of guilt.
How the case has moved through court
- September 4, 2024 — Chargesheet filed. Police filed the case against Darshan and 16 others. The Indian Express reported 231 witnesses at that filing stage.
- August 14, 2025 — Supreme Court cancels bail. The Supreme Court allowed Karnataka’s appeals and set aside the High Court bail orders. It expressly said its observations were confined to bail and must not influence the trial on its merits. Read the judgment.
- November 3, 2025 — Charges framed. A Bengaluru sessions court framed charges against all 17 accused. The Indian Express reported that the accused denied them. Charge-framing allows a trial to proceed; it is not a conviction. The Indian Express report on charge-framing.
- May 15, 2026 — Supreme Court reviews trial pace. The Court recorded that ten witnesses had been examined in the preceding seven months and described the progress as “very slow.” It directed regular witness examination and said it would review progress after another year. Supreme Court order, May 15, 2026.
Why the witness totals differ
The figures come from different records and dates. The Indian Express reported 231 witnesses when the chargesheet was filed in 2024. In its May 15, 2026 order, the Supreme Court recorded that the chargesheet listed 272 witnesses. The available records cited here do not explain precisely how the counts were reconciled, so they should not be treated as contradictory or interchangeable.
In the same 2026 order, the Court recorded the prosecution’s expectation that it would examine approximately 150 witnesses overall, prioritizing around 60. Those numbers describe the prosecution’s stated plan, not completed testimony or a final witness count.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Trial status as of May 15, 2026
The Supreme Court directed the trial court to examine witnesses regularly and said day-to-day examination could be used if needed. It said it would observe the trial’s progress for another year. That is a future review point, not evidence that the trial has ended. The latest status covered here is the May 15, 2026 order; it does not establish whether there have been later developments or whether any accused has been convicted.
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