Darshan Fans Arrested Over Intimidation To Prosecution Witness

BENGALURU: Three fans of actor Darshan, under trial in a murder case, were arrested by Kamakshipalya police of Bengaluru on Thursday on charge of alleged intimidation to a crucial prosecution witness to turn hostile. The arrested have been identified by the police as Puneeth, Suhas and Venu and they claim to be huge fans of the actor.

The intimidation to prosecution witness, a resident of Chitradurga, brought to the notice of the Court during a courtroom proceedings, that he faced threats and constant pressure being mounted on him by the trio to turn hostile and withdraw his testimony given to the police against the actor in the murder case.

The alleged threats to the prosecution witness were over phone calls. Taking a serious note of the threat to the prosecution witness, the Court directed the police to register a case against the trio and they were taken into custody.

Actor Darshan is charged with the murder of a Chitradurga resident Renukaswamy in June, 2004. The actor is alleged to have murdered Renukaswamy along with some of his associates after he learnt that Renukaswamy harassed his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda by sending lewd messages.

The trio reportedly told the police they took the step to alleged intimidation to the prosecution witness unable to bear their favourite actor behind the bars. However, police are investigating whether the tree accused of intimidation acted on their own or at the behest of others.

One of the accused-Puneeth is said to have handled a fan page dedicated to Darshan on social media while Suhas and Venu held memberships in Darshan Fans’ Association.