Overview
- The 64th Sessions Court in Bengaluru read out counts including murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful assembly, and attempt to destroy evidence to 17 defendants.
- Judge I.P. Naik reprimanded overcrowding in the courtroom and cautioned that the hearing could be postponed or held in camera if order was not maintained.
- According to the charges, Renukaswamy was kidnapped to a shed, beaten with slippers and a wooden plank, and allegedly assaulted on his private parts, resulting in fatal injuries.
- Prosecutors point to a 3,991-page charge sheet citing CCTV and call/message timelines, a recovered photograph, and Forensic Science Laboratory findings of blood on Darshan’s clothes.
- After recording not-guilty pleas and signing charge documents, Darshan, Pavithra Gowda—listed as Accused No. 1—and other co-accused were returned to prison ahead of the November 10 trial start.