In a significant development related to the fan murder case involving Kannada superstar Darshan, three individuals – Punith, Venu, and Suhas – are scheduled to appear before a Bengaluru court. The police intend to request their custody for further investigation. These individuals are accused of intimidating a crucial prosecution witness to prevent his testimony in court.
The accused were identified as Punith, Venu, and Suhas and underwent a medical examination at KC General Hospital in Bengaluru before their court appearance. They were apprehended by the Kamakshipalya Police for allegedly coercing the prosecution witness. According to reports, the accused threatened the 49th prosecution witness, Sandeep, warning him against testifying against Darshan.
Sandeep, a key witness employed as a cashier at Durga Bar in Tumakuru city, plays a pivotal role in the case. Investigators revealed that during the transportation of the murder victim Renukaswamy from Chitradurga to Bengaluru, the accused visited the bar where Sandeep worked. Sandeep’s testimony is crucial as it is expected to establish the victim’s movement from Chitradurga to Bengaluru before the crime.
Allegedly, Punith managed Darshan’s social media fan pages for an extended period, while Venu and Suhas are associated with the Tumakuru Darshan Fans Association. The accused reportedly contacted Sandeep under false pretenses, took him in their vehicle, and threatened him while driving, cautioning him about the consequences of testifying against Darshan.
The incident of witness intimidation occurred during the ongoing trial of the Renukaswamy murder case. Following the court’s attention to the matter, the police were directed to investigate the claims, leading to the arrest of the three accused. Authorities plan to seek custody of the accused for further questioning to determine if there were other individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy to influence or intimidate witnesses.
Police sources highlighted Punith’s significance in the case, as his vehicle was allegedly used in the transportation of Renukaswamy. Further interrogation of Punith is expected to shed light on the witness intimidation and his role in the murder case investigation.
