India, July 7 -- A college student in Bengaluru was kidnapped, stripped, and brutally assaulted by a group of eight men for allegedly sending obscene messages to his ex-girlfriend, police said on Monday.

The attackers were allegedly inspired by the recent high-profile Renukaswamy murder case linked to Kannada actor Darshan, famously known as 'Darshan case' The assaulters threatened to kill the victim identified as Kushal in a similar fashion, reported news agency PTI.

The incident took place on June 30 in Soladevanahalli, located in Bengaluru's Nelamangala taluk. The victim was allegedly abducted in a car by the girl's friends and taken to a secluded spot on the city's outskirts. According to police, Kushal was stripped and beaten, incl...