Fans of popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, arrested in connection with a murder investigation, thronged the Bengaluru police station where he was held on Tuesday to demand his release.
The 47-year-old, who has starred in several hit films and enjoys a huge fan following in Karnataka, was arrested that day at a gym in Mysuru and brought to Bengaluru, the state’s police chief said.
Police said his arrest was in connection with the killing of a 33-year-old man, Mr Renuka Swamy, whose mutilated body was found in a drain on the outskirts of Bengaluru at the weekend.
The case has caused a sensation in the state, where stars like Darshan have fanatical followings, reported Reuters. Police had to put up barricades around the police station in Bengaluru to hold back desperate fans who were calling for his release, visuals on local media showed.
According to OneIndia, Mr Swamy was an ardent fan of the actor. A resident of Chitradurga, he was reportedly murdered at the instruction of Darshan after he sent lewd messages to actress Pavithra Gowda, who is believed to be in a relationship with Darshan.
Thirteen people, including Darshan, have been arrested over the incident.
NDTV reported that Mr Swamy, who worked at a pharmacy and got married last year, forwarded Pavithra photos of his private parts and claimed that he was “better in bed’’ than Darshan.
Fed up with the harassment, the actress confided the matter to her house help Pawan, who notified Darshan.
The actor then instructed Raghavendra, the president of his fan club Akhila Karnataka Darshan Thoogudeepa Sena, to kidnap Mr Swamy. Darshan allegedly paid Rs30 lakh ($480,000) to a gang to murder Mr Swamy and dispose of the body.
According to a TV9 Kannada report, a woman associated with the Chitradurga Darshan Fans’ Association contacted Mr Swamy and lured him out of his house.
Mr Swamy was confined in a warehouse in Kamakshipalya, a Bengaluru neighbourhood, where he was beaten severely. He eventually succumbed to his injuries.
“Raghavendra and a few others abducted Swamy from Chitradurga on Saturday morning. Swamy, who was on his way to the pharmacy, was bundled into a car and taken to the warehouse,” a police officer told the Times Of India.
“There, Swamy was locked up and severely beaten by Raghavendra and four others. In the evening, Darshan joined in the beating along with a few others. Later, Pavithra too was present at the warehouse, when one more round of thrashing was carried out. Swamy died on the spot.”
According to reports, the group inflicted severe injuries on Mr Swamy, slashing his nose, mouth and jaw.
Mr Swamy’s body also showed burn marks, suggesting the use of a hot iron rod. Police sources told NDTV that more than 10 people, including Darshan, assaulted Mr Swamy, repeatedly throwing him against a wall.
His body was discovered by local people in a drain in Kamakshipalya as it was being chewed by stray dogs.
On Wednesday, a Bengaluru trial court ordered Darshan, Pavithra and 11 others, to be remanded in police custody for six days.
In a video shared by Public TV on YouTube, Nr Swamy’s wife Sahana is seen breaking down in tears.
She said she was three months pregnant and was looking forward to celebrating her first wedding anniversary with Mr Swamy on June 28. “Why did they kill my husband? Don’t they have families?” she asked.
Mr Swamy’s parents are seeking a complete ban on Darshan. They have requested the Karnataka government to stop the releases of his films in the state.
Calling him a “villain’’, the elderly couple said his fans deserved to know that their idol is a criminal.
“He was my only son. He got married last year. I spoke to him just on Saturday. I want justice,” his father Srinivasaiah said.
