'No Five-Star Treatment For Accused, Or We Will Suspend Jail Superintendent': Supreme Court Warns

While cancelling the bail granted to Kannada Actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case, the Supreme Court has warned the jail authorities against providing any special treatment to the actor over his celebrity status.

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan cancelled the bail granted to actors Darshan, Pavitra Gowda and five other accused in the Renukaswamy Murder Case in a plea filed by the State of Karnataka challenging the High Court's order of December 2024. The Court, while cancelling the bail, observed that the High Court's order is perverse and suffers from serious legal infirmities. It also held that the High Court exercised discretion without applying of mind when it considered Darshan's celebrity status as a mitigating factor in granting bail. 

Justice Pardiwala, penning a concurring opinion, remarked that the judgment contained a very strong message that the justice delivery system at any level should ensure, at any cost, that the rule of law is maintained. 

"My esteemed brother Justice R. Mahadevan has just pronounced a very erudite judgment. All that I can say in one sentence is that the judgment penned by my esteemed brother is ineffable. The judgment conveys a very strong message that whoever the accused may be, howsoever big or small the accused may be, he or she is not above the law. This judgment contains a very strong message that the justice delivery system at any level should ensure at any cost that the Rule of Law is maintained. No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked a favor. The need of the hour is to maintain the rule of law at all times."

The Court also issued a serious warning to the authorities, including the jail superintendent, not to treat Darshan as above the law. It has directed the Registry to circulate one copy each of this judgment to all the High Courts and all the Jail Superintendents across the country through their respective State Governments

"The day we come to know that the accused persons are provided with some special or five-star treatment within the jail premises, the first step in the process will be to place the jail superintendent under suspension, including all other officials involved in such misconduct."

Case Details: THE STATE OF KARNATAKA Vs SRI DARSHAN ETC. ETC.|SLP(Crl) No. 516-522/2025