On Tuesday, during a court hearing in the Renukaswamy murder case, Kannada actor Darshan made a shocking statement about the conditions in jail.
Appearing via video conference from prison, Darshan told the judge that jail life was unbearable. In an emotional plea, he even asked for poison, saying he could no longer live like this.
The court was stunned but firmly rejected his request, stating that the law did not permit such demands.
Darshan claimed he had not seen sunlight for weeks. He also said his hands had developed fungal infections and that he was forced to wear clothes that smelled foul.
“I can’t go on like this. Please just give me poison,” he pleaded before the court. The judge, however, remained firm in rejecting the request.
Once a leading star in Kannada cinema, Darshan has been in judicial custody since the Supreme Court cancelled his bail last month.
He faces charges in the brutal kidnapping and murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy from Chitradurga. The victim had allegedly sent offensive messages to Pavithra Gowda, who is said to be close to Darshan.
According to police, Renukaswamy was kidnapped, tortured in a shed near Bengaluru, and later found dead in a nearby drain.
Darshan also submitted a separate request for basic prison amenities like a mattress and bed. The court has postponed this matter to the afternoon session today.
Darshan’s fall from stardom has been dramatic. His desperate words in court not only reflect the serious charges he faces but also shed light on the grim conditions of Indian prisons even for celebrities.
