In a setback to Kannada actor Darshan Srinivas and his wife Vijayalakshmi Darshan, the Karnataka High Court on Friday [July 17] dismissed their appeal challenging the vacation of an interim injunction against the release of Kannada film 'BOSS', clearing the way for the movie's theatrical release. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 255]

Darshan claimed that the film draws inspiration from the ongoing Renukaswamy Murder case involving him and would prejudice his trial.

The single-judge bench of Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur observed that there was 'no perversity or illegality' in the trial court's order while vacating the interim stay against the film's release.

“…Having heard the counsel for the respondent and the counsel for appellants, the question that arises is whether there is any perversity or illegality in impugned order passed by trial court, whether it warrants any interference, and if so what order. After having heard both counsels…and after having deliberated on judgements relied by both counsels, this court is of the opinion that there is no perversity or illegality in the order passed by the trial court vacating the interim stay against the release of the movie. ...Reasons arrived at by the trial court are just and proper. No interference…. Appeal stands dismissed. Any IA filed by petitioner pending pales into insignificance…”, the court noted in the order

A detailed order is awaited

After the order was dictated, Darshan pressed that the production house be restrained from releasing the movie for one week, so that he can approach the apex court. However, the High Court orally observed, “The very purpose of dismissing your application against trial court vacating the interim order is to release the movie”.

The Court also issued a stern warning to the respondent Siri Productions on displaying a disclaimer. "I am warning you again, it's there in the order… you made a submission that there will be a 30 second disclaimer, and nothing of the true events about the appellant or his family or his personal life or personality as an actor are in the movie,” Court said.

Earlier, Senior Counsel Vivek Subba Reddy appearing for Siri Productions [Producer] had been periodically furnishing an oral undertaking that they would not release the movie until the court adjudicates the matter- providing a temporary reprieve to the celebrity duo.

For context, a Bengaluru court, in an interim order in March, had temporarily halted release of the film after actor Darshan moved a plea alleging that it draws inspiration from the ongoing Renukaswamy Murder case involving him.

The defendants in the suit are the director and producer of the movie, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and major social media platforms.

The movie was scheduled for release on April 14. The court, after granting an ad interim injunction in favour of Darshan on March 27, had posted the matter for May 2.

However, on May 2, trial court dismissed the stay application and vacated the ex-parte interim injunction.

In appeal before the High Court, Darshan had submitted that the vacation of stay is vitiated by manifest legal infirmities.

The appeal argued that the interim injunction was vacated by prima facie observing that the suit was founded upon 'wild guessing/imaginations', while the trial court ignored the audio-visual evidence of 'thirteen parallels' and the 'Inspired by True Events' declaration in the film. The court also readily accepted the respondents' paper defence that the protagonist was a 'cricketer', though the teaser shows no cricket, the appeal further adds.

Darshan and his wife have hence alleged that the audio and visuals of the movie's teaser were portrayed in such a manner that any normal viewer would associate the teaser to the appellants' lives and the criminal case filed against Darshan.

Most recently, the High Court had directed the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) to act upon a complaint against 'media trial' filed by Kannada Actor, calling it a 'trial by headlines'.

The Kannada actor is accused of being involved in the killing of his 33-year-old 'fan' over sending obscene messages to actress Pavithra Gowda.

Darshan and 16 others have been charged for offences punishable under Section 120B, (Conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence), 364 (Abduction/kidnapping), 302 (murder) and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. They were granted bail by the high court in December 2024, which was cancelled by the Supreme Court in August 2025.

Senior Counsel S. Shyam Sundar a/w Advocate Pratham N appeared for the appellants. Senior Counsel Vivek Subba Reddy appeared for the Respondents.

Case Title: MR. DARSHAN SRINIVAS & ANR v. SIRI PRODUCTIONS & ORS

Case No: MFA No. 4257/2026 (CPC)

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 255