Karnataka murder case: 'It's been like a doomsday for Kannada industry,' says Darshan Thoogudeepa's co-actor Sanjjanaa Galrani

Now, Darshan's co-actor Sanjjanaa Galrani has broken silence on the episode calling it a "doomsday" for the film industry.

Speaking to NDTV, Sanjjanaa said, "This has been a black day for us yesterday, and it's been like a doomsday for the Kannada industry."

She also called Darshan a "demigod figure in the Kannada industry". "People don't just watch his films, people are out here worshipping him, he is as big as that," the actress, who shared screen space with Darshan in films like Arjun, Agraja, says.

Detailing Darshan's side which she knows, the actress says, "He would not even call me by my name while shooting. He would refer to me as 'ji suniye' and 'amma,' that is how he represents a woman."

"The way he would talk to any woman, the way he would behave with every woman – there was a scene in the movie where he had to lift me, so he discussed it with me. He has a very beautiful aura around him - the way he talks and respects women," she added.

Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda and 11 others have so far been arrested in connection with the murder of Renuka Swamy.

According to police, the victim had posted an objectionable comment on Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda's Instagram handle accusing her of causing a rift between Thoogudeepa and his wife Vijaya Lakshmi.

This happened after Pavithra posted an Instagram video celebrating his 10-year relationship with Darshan, who has been married to Vijaya Lakshmi for 20 years.

Darshan's aides reportedly carried Renuka Swamy in a taxi from Chitradurga to their Bengaluru hideout where they tortured the victim to death.

After allegedly beating to death, Renukaswamy's body was dumped in a stormwater drain at an area which falls under Kamakshipalya Police Station.

Police reportedly got to know from a food delivery man who saw a dog eating the body of the victim.