Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Approver Status in Darshan Murder Case
The Supreme Court has allowed Pradosh S. Rao to remain an approver in the Renukaswamy murder case.
An approver is an accused person who gives evidence for the prosecution.
Darshan’s wife had asked the court to overturn that decision.
The Supreme Court dismissed her petition and upheld decisions by two lower courts.
It said there was no reason for it to step in.
Pradosh’s statement had already been recorded in the Bengaluru trial court.
Darshan’s defence can question Pradosh during cross-examination.
The case concerns the death of Renukaswamy, whose body was found in Bengaluru in June 2024.
Darshan and several others were arrested and are facing trial.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging approver status for accused No. 14, Pradosh S. Rao.
The petition was filed by Darshan’s wife, Vijayalakshmi, and challenged the decision to treat Pradosh as an approver.
The court upheld the Karnataka High Court and trial court orders, finding no grounds to intervene.
Pradosh’s statement as an approver was recorded before the Bengaluru trial court on Wednesday.
The court said Pradosh can be questioned during cross-examination as the trial proceeds.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, jailed actor Darshan, his wife Vijayalakshmi, and accused Pradosh S. Rao.
- What
- The Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging Pradosh S. Rao’s approver status and upheld lower-court orders.
- When
- The decision was reported on Thursday; Pradosh’s approver statement was recorded on Wednesday.
- Where
- The case is being tried in Bengaluru, India.
- Why
- Darshan’s wife challenged the decision to grant Pradosh approver status; the Supreme Court found no grounds to intervene.
Darshan’s defence
Court’s decision
Approver status
Darshan’s defence
Darshan’s counsel argued that required procedures and Supreme Court guidelines had not been properly followed in granting Pradosh approver status.
Court’s decision
The Supreme Court found no merit in the challenge and upheld the lower courts’ decisions.
Testing Pradosh’s evidence
Darshan’s defence
The defence can question Pradosh and test the contents and credibility of his statement during cross-examination.
Court’s decision
The court said Pradosh could be subjected to cross-examination before the trial court and noted that an approver’s presence could be necessary in the case.
- Case
- Renukaswamy murder case
- Supreme Court decision
- Dismissed the challenge to Pradosh’s approver status
- Approver
- Pradosh S. Rao, originally accused No. 14
- Petitioner
- Vijayalakshmi, Darshan’s wife
- Lower-court orders
- The Supreme Court upheld decisions of the Karnataka High Court and the trial court
- Statement
- Pradosh’s statement as an approver was recorded before the trial court on Wednesday
- Cross-examination
- The court said Pradosh could be questioned by the defence during cross-examination
- Case timeline
- Renukaswamy’s body was recovered in Bengaluru in June 2024