The Special Court for MLAs/MPs in Bengaluru is set to announce its judgment on Thursday regarding the murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, a Zilla Panchayat member. The case, dating back to 2016, involves sitting Dharwad Rural Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni as one of the accused. Additionally, the fate of 21 other accused individuals linked to the case will be determined.
Vinay Kulkarni, listed as accused number 15, faced allegations in connection with the murder case, which was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the state government. The incident, where Yogesh Gowda was fatally attacked by a group of assailants at a gym in Dharwad city on June 15, 2016, occurred following political challenges between Gowda and Kulkarni.
In 2020, Kulkarni was arrested and subsequently released on bail in 2021. Accused of tampering with witnesses, Kulkarni had his bail revoked by the court due to alleged violations of bail conditions. Following this, Kulkarni, presently serving as the Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, surrendered to authorities and was later granted bail again.
Notably, Kulkarni, a former Cabinet minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, was implicated in the conspiracy related to the murder of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda. Despite initial inaction against Kulkarni when his name first emerged, the case gained political attention, with the BJP emphasizing the issue during election campaigns.
