A Bengaluru Court on Friday (August 28) directed that accused-turned-approver Pradosh S Rao shall be examined as a prosecution witness on September 2 in the Renukaswamy murder case.

LVIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Court Judge S.M Sambrani also noted the submission of actor Darshan, accused no. 2, who sought to adjourn the examination of Pradosh until September 2, stating that they wanted to prefer an appeal against the order granting conditional pardon to Pradosh.

The Special Public Prosecutor submitted before the court that he would prefer to examine Pradosh as a witness on August 31 and sought his physical presence before the Court. The SPP said that Pradosh ought to be confronted with some documents and material objects during examination.

However, at this juncture, Darshan submitted that he wanted to prefer an appeal on the order granting pardon to Pradosh (accused No. 14), and sought to adjourn the examination until next Wednesday.

“…Considering the submission of the learned SPP and counsel for A2, Accused No.14 is treated as witness of the prosecution. Hence, Mr. Pradosh S. Rao shall be examined as prosecution on 02.09.2026…”, the court noted in the order.

The Court, hence, directed to issue witness summons to Pradosh and issue intimation to Jail Authorities and Police Inspector of Kamakshipalya Police Station, in order to produce him physically before the Court on the said date.

Previously, Pradosh had urged the court to record his statement immediately, saying that the co-accused have no right to postpone examination of approver any further. Appearing before the court, the counsel for Pradosh also submitted that he was being subjected to severe pressure.

Rao was granted pardon and made an approver on August 25 previously by the trial court. Earlier Pradosh was directed to read the pardon order and state his acceptance. Upon enquiry by the court yesterday, he submitted that he had gone through the order and accepted the conditional pardon.

The development comes in the backdrop of the Karnataka High Court's judgment dated August 13 which dismissed a petition filed by Kannada actor Darshan (accused No. 2) challenging the trial court's refusal to allow him to file objections to Pradosh Rao's application to turn approver.

The trial court had earlier held that, at the stage of considering an approver application, the persons concerned are the accused seeking pardon, the prosecution and the court, and that the other co-accused have no right to participate.

Case Title: Kamakshipalaya P.S V. Pavithra Gowda & Ors

Case No: SC 1319/2024