Kannada actor Chikkanna.
Bengaluru: Bengaluru police investigating the murder of Renukaswamy have summoned Kannada actor Chikkanna for questioning. So far, the police have arrested 17 people in the case, including actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his friend Pavithra Gowda.
According to sources, Chikkanna reportedly was seen at a party with Darshan, before the latter left for the shed where Renukaswamy was allegedly tortured and killed on June 8.
Earlier today, S Girish, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), who is overseeing the investigation, confirmed the arrest of Raju alias Dhanraj. Raju was named as the accused number nine in the first remand application submitted by the police to the magistrate.
With this, the total number of arrests in the case, where actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 12 others are in police custody, rose to 17.
Police have also held mahazars at the residences of some of the suspects, including Darshan and Pavithra, and have recovered material evidence, including pieces of clothing and have also impounded several vehicles used in the crime.
Meanwhile, responding to the developments, actor Kiccha Sudeep said that justice must be done.
“His [Renukaswamy’s] family must be given justice,” the actor said. “Renukswamy should be given justice, and so should his wife and the unborn child. Justice must be done so that there is belief. Everybody’s hearts go out to the family.”
The dead body of Renukaswamy was found on June 9 near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli. Four of the 17 suspects had surrendered before the police the same day claiming responsibility for the murder over a financial dispute.
Further probe revealed a larger conspiracy involving Darshan, Pavithra and others. Police officials said that Renukaswamy had sent lewd messages and posted objectionable comments on Pavitra’s social media, which led to the murder.
Renukaswamy was allegedly tortured, after he was brought to the city by another suspect Raghavendra, and was brandished with metal at a shed in RR Nagar before his body was disposed of. Probe had revealed that the victim was administered electric shocks.
The other arrested are Vinay V, Nagaraju R, Laxman M, Pradosh S, Pawan K, Deepak Kumar M, Nandish, Nikhil Nayak, Raghavendra, Karthik, Keshava Murthy, Ravi, Jagadish alias Jagga and Anu Kumar.