<p>Bengaluru: An undated photograph from inside the Bengaluru prison went viral on Sunday, showing jailed Kannada film star <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/darshan-thoogudeepa">Darshan Thoogudeepa</a> smoking a cigarette and sipping a cuppa. </p><p>Darshan, along with his 16 associates, have been in judicial custody since June 22 for the murder of Renukaswamy, 34, a native of Chitradurga. </p><p>Darshan is alleged to have plotted and executed Renukuswamy's <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/crime">murder</a> after he reportedly sent obscene messages to the actor's female friend, Pavithra Gowda. </p><p>Police say the investigation into the sensational murder case is in the final stages and a charge sheet will soon be submitted to the court. </p><p>The viral photograph accessed by <em>DH</em> shows the actor sitting on the prison veranda in a plastic chair, puffing a cigarette and holding a cup in his hand.</p>.Renukaswamy murder: Darshan's request for home-cooked food denied, prison officials tell Karnataka High Court.<p>The purported photograph said to be captured by another inmate also features notorious history-sheeter 'Wilson Garden' Naga, in a black t-shirt, Darshan’s manager Nagaraj, in a textured white t-shirt, and history-sheeter Srinivas alias Kulla Seena.</p><p>Naga, wanted in dozens of serious crimes, has been arrested under the stringent Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA).</p><p>Meanwhile, a video of Darshan purportedly video-calling a fan has also gone viral. In the video, Darshan is purportedly seen waving from inside his prison cell.</p><p><em>DH</em> couldn't independently verify if the photograph was authentic.</p><p>A top police officer confirmed to <em>DH</em> that an inquiry had been initiated into the matter to ascertain the authenticity of the claims. </p><p>Repeated calls to Malini Krishnamoorthy, Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services), and Mallikarjun, the Chief Superintendent of Prison, went unanswered.</p><p>The photograph and the video came to the fore a day after a raid was held inside the prison by the Central Crime Branch (CCB). Crime branch officers said the checks were routine and nothing significant was recovered. </p><p>Reacting to the photograph, Renukaswamy’s father expressed concern over the ongoing investigation. </p><p>"We trust the police but when we see this, we feel a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry may be needed," said a distraught Kashinath S Shivanagowdru from Chitradurga. "Let there be a thorough investigation into this."</p>
<p>Bengaluru: An undated photograph from inside the Bengaluru prison went viral on Sunday, showing jailed Kannada film star <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/darshan-thoogudeepa">Darshan Thoogudeepa</a> smoking a cigarette and sipping a cuppa. </p><p>Darshan, along with his 16 associates, have been in judicial custody since June 22 for the murder of Renukaswamy, 34, a native of Chitradurga. </p><p>Darshan is alleged to have plotted and executed Renukuswamy's <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/crime">murder</a> after he reportedly sent obscene messages to the actor's female friend, Pavithra Gowda. </p><p>Police say the investigation into the sensational murder case is in the final stages and a charge sheet will soon be submitted to the court. </p><p>The viral photograph accessed by <em>DH</em> shows the actor sitting on the prison veranda in a plastic chair, puffing a cigarette and holding a cup in his hand.</p>.Renukaswamy murder: Darshan's request for home-cooked food denied, prison officials tell Karnataka High Court.<p>The purported photograph said to be captured by another inmate also features notorious history-sheeter 'Wilson Garden' Naga, in a black t-shirt, Darshan’s manager Nagaraj, in a textured white t-shirt, and history-sheeter Srinivas alias Kulla Seena.</p><p>Naga, wanted in dozens of serious crimes, has been arrested under the stringent Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA).</p><p>Meanwhile, a video of Darshan purportedly video-calling a fan has also gone viral. In the video, Darshan is purportedly seen waving from inside his prison cell.</p><p><em>DH</em> couldn't independently verify if the photograph was authentic.</p><p>A top police officer confirmed to <em>DH</em> that an inquiry had been initiated into the matter to ascertain the authenticity of the claims. </p><p>Repeated calls to Malini Krishnamoorthy, Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services), and Mallikarjun, the Chief Superintendent of Prison, went unanswered.</p><p>The photograph and the video came to the fore a day after a raid was held inside the prison by the Central Crime Branch (CCB). Crime branch officers said the checks were routine and nothing significant was recovered. </p><p>Reacting to the photograph, Renukaswamy’s father expressed concern over the ongoing investigation. </p><p>"We trust the police but when we see this, we feel a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry may be needed," said a distraught Kashinath S Shivanagowdru from Chitradurga. "Let there be a thorough investigation into this."</p>