Observing that persons regardless of popularity are equal before the law, the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to actor Darshan, Kannada actress Pavithra Gowda, and other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan set aside the Karnataka High Court order, saying it suffers from various infirmities.

While Gowda, was taken into police custody on Thursday, the top court directed the authorities to take Darshan and other accused into custody forthwith and ordered that the trial be conducted expeditiously.