Kannada actor Darshan denied bail in wife assault case

Bangalore, Sep 20 (IANS) Leading Kannada actor Darshan, arrested for assaulting his wife, was denied bail Tuesday - for the second time in a week.

Sessions court judge R.B. Budihal rejected the bail plea of Darshan, arrested Sep 9 for beating up his wife Vijayalakshmi and threatening to murder her and the couple's three-year-old son Vineesh.

Last Tuesday, First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Venkatesh Hulagi had rejected bail plea of the actor though Vijayalakshmi retracted her statement after intervention by leading Kannada actors and producers.

Hulagi had declined to accept the changed statement of Vijayalakshmi that she had suffered injuries from a fall in the bathroom and not from an attack by her husband.

Ever since his arrest Darshan has been in a hospital for treatment of asthma and jaundice.

He will, however, be discharged Wednesday as his condition has improved, Shashidar Buggi, head of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, told reporters Tuesday.

The actor will be lodged at Parappana Agrahara jail in east Bangalore after his discharge, police said.

The wife beating case led to Kannada Film Producers Association imposing a three-year ban on actress Nikitha whom Vijayalakshmi blamed for her marital discord.

However, the ban was lifted as it was opposed by a large number Kannada actors and producers and several women's organizations.