Karnataka High Court stays suspension of Darshan’s arms licence

Bengaluru

The Karnataka High Court on Monday put on hold proceedings arising from an order that suspended actor Darshan’s arms licence, observing that continuing the action at this stage would serve little purpose.

The interim relief came while Justice M Nagaprasanna was hearing a petition challenging the January 20, 2025 directive issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Bengaluru, which had suspended the actor’s arms licence. The suspension was based on an allegation that Darshan, while out on bail, had the “propensity” to misuse his licensed weapon.

Appearing for the actor, advocate Sunil Kumar S argued that the suspension order was passed when his client was on bail and rested merely on apprehensions rather than any concrete act. He submitted that the pistol licence had been granted in 2008 and contended that there had been no instance of threat or misuse. The court was also informed that the weapon has since been surrendered following the cancellation of bail.

During the hearing, the State maintained that the weapon must be preserved in accordance with law. The court orally remarked that if the weapon were unlicensed, the matter would stand differently, but noted that the licence dated back several years.

In its dictated order, the court recorded that since the actor’s bail had been cancelled and he had returned to prison, and the firearm had been surrendered, further proceedings would remain stayed for now, calling it “an exercise in futility” at present.

The case has been posted to March 6.

Darshan is currently in judicial custody after the Supreme Court of India cancelled the bail earlier granted to him and other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.