• Indian court charges actors and 15 others with murder and kidnapping
• The accused killed a man named Renukaswamy in 2024

A court in Bengaluru, India, has charged Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his partner Pavithra Gowda, along with 15 others, in the 2024 murder case of a man named Renukaswamy

The trial is expected to begin on November 10

Police stated that 33-year-old Renukaswamy, who worked at a pharmacy, was kidnapped by the actor’s associates for sending inappropriate messages to Pavithra Gowda

He was taken to a shed in Bengaluru where he was allegedly beaten to death by the actor, Pavithra, and others

His body was disposed of in a stormwater drain in an attempt to cover up the crime and was found on June 9, 2024

The following day, four people confessed to the crime, which led investigators to charge the two actors

All 17 accused face charges under the Indian Penal Code, including murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, attempting to destroy evidence, and more

The court witnessed a dramatic scene as the accused arrived under tight police security, with unrelated attendees asked to leave to ensure smooth proceedings

After the session, all defendants signed the charge documents before being returned to Parappana Agrahara Central Prison to continue their judicial custody