CHITRADURGA, 7 JULY

A quiet neighbourhood in Chitradurga’s VRS Layout houses 'Sadharma Sadhana', which means "performing one's duty till one attains samadhi". It now houses the grieving family of Renukaswamy, who was allegedly murdered by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his 16 associates a month ago on 8 June.

The family told Salar News that they are satisfied with the probe, but they have lost their pillar, a loving son and a doting husband. Life was snuffed out of Renukaswamy before he could even see his wife deliver their first baby. 

While media reports claim that 33-year-old Renukaswamy was a fan of Darshan, his family vehemently denies such claims.

"My son was never a Darshan fan. We haven't even been to a cinema in decades," Kashinath S Shivanagowdru, a retired BESCOM employee and Renukaswamy's father told Salar News. "He was a cricket enthusiast, but he never spoke about Darshan or Kannada films," insists Shivanagowdru.

His wife hopes for a government job
While uncertainty looms over the future of Renukaswamy's pregnant wife Sahana, she hopes that the State government will grant her a job in Chitradurga. "It's the least the State can do," she said.


Her mother-in-law Rathnaprabha added, “We are satisfied with the ongoing probe and we do not want any compensation but we urge the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet to give a government job for Sahana."

Rathnaprabha and her husband Kashinath S Shivanagowdru met Siddaramiah on 25 June. While the Chief Minister assured Sahana of a government job, the family is yet to receive confirmation.  

'He only spoke about work, not Darshan' 

The inconsolable father revealed their complete lack of knowledge about Renukaswamy's social media activity. "None of us knew about the alleged lewd messages Renukaswamy sent to Pavithra Gowda. During his last days, he primarily spoke about work pressure."

Angered by the alleged obscene messages, Darshan, at Pavithra's behest, reportedly had Renukaswamy abducted and taken to a shed in Bengaluru, where he was assaulted, leading to his death.

"Even a month after his murder, the pain is unbearable," he said. Renukaswamy's mother Rathnaprabha cried, "Celebrities, police, and ministers visited us, but can they bring my son back?"

‘Why this brutality?’
Shivanagowdru expressed bewilderment over the pain inflicted on his "soft-spoken" son by "the inhuman goons who didn't spare a single part of his body as they tortured him." "The post-mortem report concluded that Renukaswamy's death was due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt force injuries. Why the brutality?" he questioned.

"Darshan could have called and told me about the messages," he said. "I would have reprimanded my son, and this wouldn't have happened. We could have resolved it." He questioned why Darshan didn't approach the police to file a complaint.

Despite his immense loss, Shivanagowdru expressed no animosity towards Darshan. Instead, he pleaded: "Even now, I hold nothing against Darshan. I appeal to him to give up his negative habits, let go of his anger, and reunite with his family. Lead a contented life."

Barely a year after their wedding, 25-year-old Sahana finds herself a widow. She says she was looking forward to her first wedding anniversary on 28 June.

To overcome her grief and make ends meet, Sahana, a native of Harihara, has enrolled in a daily computer course. "It helps me take my mind off everything for an hour. But the respite is temporary," she said.

Six months pregnant, Sahana worries not only for herself but also for the baby. "I don't know what the future holds. The crime has been done. But I won't rest. I will fight for justice for Renukaswamy."

The budding pharmacist

Renukaswamy was a bright student but had discontinued his BCom to pursue a career at Apollo Pharmacy three years ago. He thrived and earned the respect of his colleagues, according to his father.

"His entire focus was on his job," Shivanagowdru recalls. "He even asked me to refer retired friends so they could get their medications from his shop."

Renukaswamy's hard work was recognised. Just days before his death, he was chosen to manage the newly opened branch."

Darshan fans are outraged

The tragedy has resonated beyond the family. Autorickshaw drivers, once Darshan fans, have removed the actor's stickers from their vehicles.

P Kiran, a driver, said, "This is not just the death of one person, but the death of humanity."

S Shadakshariah, Renukaswamy's uncle, said several women recently claimed to have received inappropriate messages from Renukaswamy online. "Why didn't they complain earlier? Strangely, some are trying to cover up this murder for Darshan's benefit," he asserts.

Renukaswamy's younger sister KS Suchetha, who travelled from Hospet to be with her grieving parents and sister-in-law, said, "What Darshan and his men did to my brother is inhumane. He was innocent. I've lost a dear friend and a loving brother."- Salar News