Bengaluru/IBNS: In a picture which went viral on social media, popular Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is accused of murdering 33-year-old Renukaswamy, was caught having a tea party and smoking a cigarette along with three others at a lawn inside the Bengaluru prison.

In a viral video, a man in a yellow attire starts a video call and then pans the camera to Darshan, who then speaks to the person on the other side of the call.

Darshan, who waves at the man on the other side of the call, was seen in a room with curtains behind him.

The viral picture and the video have not been independently verified by IBNS.

Darshan, his girlfriend Pavithra Gowda are among 17 people who have been arrested for allegedly planning and executing the murder.

About the murder case

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 Renukaswamy 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.