Darshan Thoogudeepa and his wife Vijayalakshmi have approached the Supreme Court on the Renukaswamy murder case and filed three appeals against the approver status granted to co-accused Pradosh Rao.
Darshan has filed two appeals and Vijayalakshmi has another one against Karnataka High Court order for Pradosh to become an approver, according to reports on 29 September 2026.
The development in the case came after the Karnataka High Court upheld the trial court’s decision to allow Pradosh Rao, accused No. 14 in the case, to turn approver. Vijayalakshmi’s petition against the trial court was dismissed by the High Court. The court also held that there was no reason to interfere with the decision and that the defence would have the opportunity to question the approver during cross-examination.
The issue of approver status has become a part of the ongoing proceedings. An approver is an accused person who is granted pardon subject to conditions and agrees to make a full and truthful disclosure of relevant facts. Here Pradosh had applied for pardon and the trial court allowed him to become an approver. The prosecution had supported his application before the trial court.
Darshan’s side has challenged aspects of the High Court’s orders regarding the approver process. Two appeals have been filed by the actor before the Supreme Court, the latest report states. One of the legal issues is whether a co-accused needs to be heard before an order granting approver status is passed. Another challenge is the High Court’s handling of the issue and decision related to the approver proceedings.
Vijayalakshmi has separately petitioned the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court's September 23 decision to award Pradosh Rao approver status. Her petition had earlier challenged the trial court's order allowing Rao to become an approver. The High Court, however, dismissed the challenge and said the defence would have the right to cross-examine him during the trial.
The development comes after a series of court proceedings surrounding Pradosh's decision to seek pardon. In September, the Bengaluru trial court had given him approver status. His application was made on August 5 and the prosecution supported it. The prosecution cited witnesses and the need to get more evidence as reasons for the application, the newspaper reported.
The Karnataka High Court’s order also made it clear that the defence could question the approver during cross-examination. That means that the approver’s testimony could be part of the prosecution’s evidence but the accused can have the opportunity to test that testimony during the trial.
As three separate appeals now come before the Supreme Court, the next stage of the legal proceedings is closely watched. The Supreme Court will decide if the challenges can proceed and what direction, if any, should be issued regarding the approver-related orders.
The filing of appeals does not in itself determine the merits of the allegations in the underlying criminal case. The Renukaswamy murder case is pending before different courts and the allegations against the accused will be heard and decided through the trial and the evidence.
