Bengaluru: Three people, including a close aide of Kannada star Darshan Thoogudeepa, have been arrested by the police in the Renukaswamy murder case.

According to police sources, Darshan's associate Nagaraj was looking after all the transactions of the actor.

He was also looking after Darshan's farmhouse in Mysore.

Nagaraj was absconding after the police arrested Darshan, his friend and actress Pavitra Gowda and 11 other operatives.

The sources did not provide details about her co-star Pradosh's role in the murder.

Pradosh appeared in small roles in some films in which Darshan was the lead actor.

Another henchman, identified as Ravi, surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police on Thursday evening.

He is a resident of Kurubarahatti, the Chitradurga district headquarters town, and was absconding after the murder was revealed.

Till now 16 people including Darshan and Pavitra have been arrested.

Darshan and his gang were arrested in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy from Chitradurga on the night of June 8 for allegedly sending obscene messages to Pavitra.

After this, the victim's body was thrown into a rain drain in the limits of Kamakshipalya police station.

The police became aware of the murder when a food delivery boy alerted them about dogs eating a man's body.