Accused No. 14 seeks to turn approver; Darshan objects
Bengaluru: The high-profile Renukaswamy murder case involving Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa has taken a significant turn after Accused No. 14, Pradosh, moved a Bengaluru court seeking pardon and permission to become an approver in the case.
Pradosh filed an application before the 59th CCH Court under provisions relating to pardon for an accomplice, expressing his willingness to disclose the complete truth surrounding the alleged murder. His plea has added a new dimension to the trial, as his testimony could potentially influence the prosecution’s case against Darshan and the other accused.
During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prasanna Kumar informed the court that the prosecution had no objection to considering the plea, provided Pradosh makes a truthful and complete disclosure of all facts related to the offence. The prosecutor also submitted a memo before the court and cited legal precedents, including the approver proceedings in the Yogesh Gowda murder case.
The prosecution argued that once Pradosh records his statement before the court, it can decide whether he should be granted pardon under the applicable legal provisions.However, Darshan’s counsel Hashmath Pasha opposed the plea, contending that the defence had not been furnished with a copy of the application. He argued that merely expressing willingness to testify does not automatically entitle an accused to receive a pardon.
In his petition, Pradosh stated that he was prepared to reveal the true sequence of events relating to the Renukaswamy murder and sought pardon from the court.
He also requested that he be lodged in a separate prison cell, claiming there was a possibility of intimidation or pressure from the other accused if housed together.
Additionally, Pradosh urged the court to exempt him from appearing alongside Darshan and the remaining accused during trial proceedings.
He requested permission either to be produced through a separate route or to participate in the proceedings through video conferencing.
Meanwhile, Accused No. 8 Ravishankar and Accused No. 10 Vinay, who are currently out on bail, have also reportedly expressed their intention to seek approver status. Their counsel informed the court that separate applications would be filed shortly.
According to the prosecution, Pradosh faces allegations of helping destroy evidence after the murder, allegedly accepting Rs30 lakh from Darshan, conspiring to make unrelated persons surrender in the case, and facilitating the arrival of co-accused Pavithra Gowda at the crime scene.
If the court ultimately accepts Pradosh as an approver, his testimony could become o ne of the prosecution’s strongest pieces of evidence, as an approver is legally required to make a full and truthful disclosure of every material fact relating to the offence and the involvement of all accused. The court is expected to decide on the application after hearing the objections raised by the defence and considering the prosecution’s submissions.