Home Minister Asserts Chargesheet in Renukaswamy Murder Case Will Not Impact Court Proceedings

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified on Tuesday that the public release of the chargesheet in the Renukaswamy murder case, involving Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and 16 others, will not influence the judicial process. He emphasized that the court would rely solely on the evidence and documents submitted by the police rather than any public commentary.

“The court will base its decisions on the merits of the case, guided by official documents and evidence, not external discussions,” Parameshwara said, responding to concerns about the case details being made public.

Last week, the police filed a 3,991-page preliminary chargesheet. Addressing objections raised by some, including Darshan’s legal team, about the chargesheet’s contents being publicly disclosed, Parameshwara noted that once submitted to the court, such documents become accessible to both parties and are no longer confidential. “It’s a public document; its release cannot be prevented.”

He dismissed claims from BJP leaders that the release of the chargesheet was a tactic to distract from an alleged site allotment scam involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Parameshwara insisted that both cases were being handled independently and any attempt to link them was unfounded.

Additionally, the Home Minister commented on the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) findings regarding the Rameshwaram Café blast, where it was reported that the perpetrators had originally targeted the state BJP office. Parameshwara noted that the state government was not directly involved in the NIA’s investigation and declined to comment on their findings.

This case highlights the complexities of high-profile investigations involving public figures and the legal procedures that must follow official evidence and documentation.