Renukaswamy murder case: Loafers Darshan kicked his fan with found in wife’s flat; clothes seized

BENGALURU: In a midnight operation, police probing the Renukaswamy murder case retrieved Sandalwood actor Darshan's loafers, allegedly used in the crime, from his wife Vijayalakshmi's flat at Hoskerehalli in south Bengaluru.
Renukaswamy was beaten to death, allegedly by Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, and his aides, on June 8. On Saturday, police had sought extension of the accused's custody, saying they had to seize Darshan's clothes and shoes as they were crucial evidence.
Police initially thought that Darshan's clothes and footwear could be found either in his house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar or at Pavithra's residence in Kenchenahalli. They had not factored in the possibility of any of this material ending up in the house of the actor's wife, with whom his ties are said to be anything but cordial.
According to sources, Darshan told his interrogators that he had kept the clothes and footwear he was wearing on the day of the crime in his RR Nagar residence. Police were hoping to find Renukaswamy's bloodstains on it.
A team of police and FSL officials took Darshan and his aide Pavan K to his residence at Ideal Township in RR Nagar at 11.15pm Saturday. Darshan's employee Babul Khan opened the door. As informed by Darshan, police rummaged through a plastic bin on the first floor, but in vain. Darshan and Khan told them that there are possibilities that the domestic help might have taken the clothes for washing to the terrace. The blue jeans trousers of True Religion brand and a black round-neck T-shirt of Opium Valley brand, which the actor was wearing on the day of the crime, were found on the terrace.
When asked about his footwear, Darshan took them to the ground floor and showed them a cupboard near the sitting room. But the loafers weren't there.
Given to Vijayalakshmi
Sources said Pavan told police that the footwear may have been taken to Mysuru by Darshan's costume assistant Raju when he went for shooting. Police contacted Raju over phone at 12.56am and went near his house in Attiguppe. He informed police that he had given a few clothes, shoes and other valuables of Darshan to his wife Vijayalakshmi. Police immediately contacted Vijayalakshmi, who replied that there were a few shoes of her husband at her home.
According to sources, Vijayalakshmi asked police not to visit her flat as it was past midnight and she had a minor son at home. She informed police that she would bring all of Darshan's shoes near the apartment security room and they could check them there.
Officials rushed to the Hosakerehalli apartment with Darshan. When police personnel reached the security room, Vijayalakshmi had kept a few shoes and other footwear there. Darshan identified the blue loafers he had worn that day. FSL officials seized them.
Police commissioner B Dayananda told media that his team is working hard to ensure justice is delivered to the victim's family.