In today’s hearing, actor Darshan’s lawyer said he is being held in a cell meant for terrorists, making his jail life extremely harsh. He argued that Darshan needs a mattress and pillow, claiming the actor developed infections from reused bedding.
On September 9, during the Renukaswamy murder case hearing, Darshan described the unbearable prison conditions. Speaking via video link, he even asked for poison to end his life. He said he went weeks without sunlight, suffered fungal infections, and wore unhygienic clothes.
Darshan, once a leading star in Kannada cinema, has been in custody since the Supreme Court cancelled his bail last month. He faces charges in the kidnapping and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, who allegedly sent offensive messages to Pavithra Gowda, a woman close to the actor.
Police say Renukaswamy was kidnapped, tortured in a shed near Bengaluru, and later found dead in a drain. The case was adjourned today by the Karnataka Civil Court to October 9 after arguments over Darshan’s prison conditions.
From stardom to harsh confinement, Darshan’s statements highlight the seriousness of the charges against him and the grim realities of Indian prison life.
