Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 24: Actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, currently in jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, suffered another setback in the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday after the court dismissed a writ petition filed by his wife Vijayalakshmi challenging the order allowing accused Pradosh Rao to turn approver.
Vijayalakshmi had filed the writ petition on behalf of Darshan, challenging the trial court’s decision to permit Pradosh to become an approver in the murder case.
The High Court upheld the order passed by the 59th City Civil and Sessions Court (CCH), which had allowed Pradosh to turn approver, and dismissed Vijayalakshmi’s petition.
A High Court bench headed by Justice V Srishananda said there was no reason to interfere with the trial court’s order, pointing out that the defence would have the right to question Pradosh during cross-examination. “There is a right to question Pradosh during cross-examination. Hence, there is no need to interfere with the order of the trial court,” the High Court observed.
Pradosh, who is accused No. 14 in the case, had approached the trial court seeking permission to become an approver. The trial court subsequently allowed his request.
Seeking to have the order set aside, Vijayalakshmi approached the High Court with a writ petition on behalf of Darshan.
The petition alleged that Pradosh had sought approver status under the influence and instigation of Darshan’s opponents and had done so for his own selfish interests.
It further alleged that Pradosh had not filed any application for the previous two years, but had suddenly decided to become an approver, describing the development as suspicious.
The petition therefore sought the cancellation of the trial court’s order permitting Pradosh to turn approver in the Renukaswamy murder case.
The case relates to the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga. Darshan and several others are accused in the case, and the actor remains in jail in connection with the proceedings.