Pavitra Gowda, co-accused along with actor Darshan and 10 others in the murder of Renukaswamy. Photo: Instagram/Pavitra Gowda
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was sent to six-day police custody on June 11 in connection with the murder of a man named Renukaswamy. The victim was a fan of the actor, and was allegedly tortured and killed for harassing Mr Darshan’s close friend Pavithra Gowda online.
Who is Pavitra Gowda, the woman caught in this whirlpool and co-accused in the murder case?
Pavitra Gowda, who remained anonymous till last year, came into the limelight when her Instagram reel with pictures with Darshan went viral on social media. The reel, posted on January 24, 2024, also featured his daughter from his previous marriage. In it, Pavitra hinted at celebrating “10 years of relationship” with the ‘Challenging Star’.
Pavithra Gowda and actor Darshan Thoogudeepa. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The social media post led to Darshan’s wife Vijayalakshmi questioning Pavitra Gowda’s “relationship” with her husband. She uploaded photos of Pavitra with her ex-husband and questioned her “agenda” on Instagram posts. After the public spat, Darshan’s fans showered anger and bitterness towards Pavitra on all her social media posts.
Renukaswamy, a resident of Lakshmi Venkateswara Layout in Chitradurga and working in a medical store, had allegedly commented on Pavitra Gowda’s social media account and accused her of creating a rift between his favourite film star and his wife. Renukaswamy allegedly used abusive comments, which angered Pavitra and she sought help to teach the accused a lesson.
Pavitra’s social media page describes her as a fashion designer. She is said to be the managing director of a boutique in Bengaluru. She came into the film industry with the desire to become an actress, but neither luck nor opportunities favored her. She acted in four films before becoming an entrepreneur.
