Kannada Actor Darshan Srinivas Withdraws Plea Before Karnataka High Court Seeking Home-Cooked Food, Clothing In Prison

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogdeep Srinivas who is in judicial custody in connection with an alleged murder case has withdrawn a plea filed before the Karnataka High Court seeking home cooked food, clothing, cutlery, bedding and books in prison.

A single judge bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar permitted withdrawal of the petition after Darshan filed a memo, seeking to challenge the trial court order which had rejected his application.

Recently the high court had directed the actor to approach the trial court where his case is pending first before it could hear the petition. Following which the actor had filed an application seeking home cooked food and bedding.

The magistrate court on July 25, rejected his application saying “Prima facie, at this stage of proceedings, the report of Chief Medical Officer dated 22.07.2024 does not warrant the interference by this court, with respect to the food being provided to him. That apart, this court is also of the considered view that, the accused No.2 is not entitled to the relief sought, pursuant to Rule 728 of the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Manual, 2021 as he is facing allegations of murder.”

In his application it was claimed he is suffering from stomach upsets and bouts of diarrhoea. Being a Cine Actor, had been following a diet, which was rich in protein in order to maintain a fit physique and muscular body by consuming home cooked food.

Rejecting it the court had said, “The claim of the accused No.2 as to having repeated stomach upsets, diarrhoea is not forthcoming as per the report of the Chief Medical Officer dated 22.07.2024 as well as the earlier report of Chief Medical Officer dated 16.07.2024. The reports are neither containing advice nor recommendation to provide protein diet as claimed.”

Darshan was arrested in the Renukaswamy murder case, on June 11, 2024 and remanded to judicial custody on June 22. His petition refers to section 30 of Karnataka Prisons Act and says it allows undertrial prisoners to maintain themselves or to purchase/receive proper food, clothing, bedding subject to examination and to such rules as may be approved by IGP (Prisons).

Case Title: DARSHAN THOOGDEEP SRINIVAS And State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 18222/2024