3 get bail in Renukaswamy murder case

BENGALURU: Three of the 17 accused arrested and charge-sheeted in the Renukaswamy murder case were granted bail on Monday. The Chitradruga resident was allegedly abducted and killed by actor Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, and their associates.

The three granted bail had surrendered before police and owned up the murder as part of a cover-up operation.

While Keshava Murthy was granted bail by the high court, the sessions court allowed the bail petitions of the other two accused — Karthik alias Kappe and Nikhil Nayak.

Allowing Murthy's bail petition, Justice Vishwajit Shetty observed, "Allegations against the accused surfaced after the murder; he had surrendered before the police. He has been charged with hatching a criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence; the punishment for which is seven years or less and the charges are bailable in nature; his petition is allowed without going into the merits of allegations against other accused persons, who are facing murder charges."

Karthik and Nayak had petitioned the sessions court on Saturday, and the orders were reserved for Monday.

The same court adjourned the hearing on Darshan's bail petition to Sept 27, after asking the prosecution to submits its objections, if any.