Overview
- The Supreme Court bench, in a Friday order, told the Bengaluru trial court to examine 60 key prosecution witnesses within a year and allowed day-to-day hearings to speed testimony.
- The court declined immediate bail for actor Darshan but said he may renew his bail plea if the trial shows no substantial progress after the one-year window.
- Prison officials were directed to provide all basic amenities allowed to any undertrial prisoner, after Darshan alleged isolation in a so-called quarantine cell that the state said is only a legacy label.
- To tackle slow progress, the court noted only 10 witnesses have been examined since charges were framed on November 3, 2025, and asked the Karnataka High Court to address the vacancy that left the trial judge on additional charge.
- Darshan and actress Pavithra Gowda are accused of the abduction, torture, and murder of 33-year-old fan Renukaswamy in June 2024, and the top court had cancelled Darshan’s earlier bail in August 2025 over concerns about witness influence and special treatment.