Prison Authorities Reject Actor Darshan's Application Seeking Home Cooked Food

Prison authorities on Tuesday informed the Karnataka High Court that representations made by Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa Srinivas, seeking home cooked food, bedding and cutlery has been rejected.

A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna had on July 31 directed the authorities to consider the representations and pass an order and communicate it to the court.

Darshan's counsel sought one week's time to go through the order and make submissions on merits. Accordingly, the court has posted the matter for further hearing on September 5.

Darshan had moved the high court, challenging the order of the trial court which had rejected his application for home cooked food. 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, Darshan claimed he is suffering from stomach upsets and bouts of diarrhoea. Being a Cine Actor, he said he 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.

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 THOOGUDEEPA SRINIVAS AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 20514/2024