Supreme Court Dismisses Actress Pavithra Gowda’s Review Plea in Renukaswamy Murder Case

The Supreme Court on November 6, 2025, dismissed a review petition filed by Kannada film actress Pavithra Gowda seeking reconsideration of the August 14, 2025 order that had cancelled her bail, along with that of actor Darshan and others, in the Renukaswamy murder case.

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan also turned down Gowda’s request for an open court hearing of the review petition. “We have carefully gone through the said order and the record. In our opinion, no case for review is made out. Consequently, the review petitions are dismissed,” the bench said in its order.

As per Supreme Court Rules, review petitions are ordinarily considered in chambers and not heard in open court.

On August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court had set aside the Karnataka High Court’s order granting regular bail to Darshan, Pavithra, and others, directing that they be taken into custody immediately. Court found that the High Court’s December 2024 bail order suffered from “serious legal infirmities” and amounted to a “mechanical exercise of discretion” without recording any special or cogent reasons in a case involving grave offences under the Indian Penal Code.

The bench had also underscored that “no individual is shielded from legal accountability by virtue of status or social capital,” reiterating that Article 14 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law.

Justice Pardiwala, concurring with the lead judgment authored by Justice Mahadevan, described the ruling as “ineffable,” observing that it sent a strong message that no one, however powerful, is above the law. “Obedience to the law is demanded as a right, not asked as a favour. The need of the hour is to maintain the rule of law at all times,” he said, adding that any special treatment or “five-star service” to accused persons in jail would invite immediate suspension of the jail superintendent and the officials concerned.

Darshan, 47, was arrested on June 11, 2024, in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, whose body was recovered near a stormwater drain in Bengaluru on June 9, 2024. Police have alleged that the victim had sent obscene messages to Darshan’s close associate, Pavithra Gowda, provoking the actor.

The chargesheet filed on September 3, 2024, named Pavithra as Accused No. 1 and Darshan as Accused No. 2, along with 15 other associates.

Case Title: Pavithra Gowda vs The State of Karnataka & Ors

Judgment Date: November 6, 2025

Bench: Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan