Kannada film actor Darshan, who was sent back to jail recently in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, made a dire appeal to the court on September 9: “Provide basic facilities or feed me poison.” Following the actor’s melodramatic appeal, the judge told Darshan that he could not make such requests nor could they provide poison. The court directed the jail officials to not be concerned about Darshan’s celebrity status but to allow him to walk inside the barrack and provide him facilities as per the prison manual.
The court rejected the prosecution’s request to shift Darshan and other co-accused to different prisons. Darshan will, therefore, continue to be lodged in the Parappana Agrahara prison in Bangalore, where he is since August 14.
Earlier, Darshan told the court that he was not getting even primary facilities. He alleged that he was suffering from fungal infection and that he had not been allowed to leave his cell. He added that he would rather consume poison than endure inhuman treatment. He also complained that the prison officials were not providing him adequate blankets and other amenities.
The judge directed the officials to treat Darshan and others as “civil prisoners” as they had not been convicted. The court said, Darshan would be allowed to purchase or receive from private sources food, clothing, bedding or writing materials, books, newspapers, or other necessities, subject to examination and rules. Darshan can also get night shirts, half-pants, a pair of slippers, two pillows, four pillow covers, two bedsheets, a woollen blanket, two mattresses, a comb, mirror and a warm jacket.
