Bengaluru: Court warns of strict action over alleged witness tampering in Renukaswamy murder case

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective. First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming. Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day. Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features. The 58 Additional City Civil and Sessions Court on Tuesday (June 30) issued a strong warning against any attempt to influence witnesses during the trial in the high-profile murder case involving actor Darshan Thoogudeepa. During the day’s proceedings, prosecution witness number 17 (PW-17) was examined. After taking oath, the witness informed the court that unknown persons had allegedly contacted him through an acquaintance named Akarsh, seeking information about his testimony and asking him to depose in a particular manner. Taking serious note of the allegation, the court directed the witness to file a separate affidavit detailing the alleged attempt to influence him. The judge observed that if the affidavit is filed, appropriate legal action would be initiated against those responsible. The court further cautioned that any attempt to tamper with witnesses, whether by persons connected or unconnected to the case, would be viewed seriously and dealt with strictly in accordance with law. The Investigating Officer was directed to provide necessary protection to the witness throughout his testimony. As the court ran out of time, the further chief examination of PW-17 was deferred. The matter has been posted to July 1, 2026, for further evidence.