Vinay Kulkarni Among 16 Convicts Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Yogesh Gowda Murder Case
Bengaluru/Dharwad: In a major development in the 2016 Yogesh Gowda murder case, a Special Court for MPs/MLAs has convicted 19 accused, including sitting Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni. The verdict was pronounced by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, bringing a significant turn in one of Karnataka’s high-profile political murder cases.
The case pertains to the murder of Yogesh Gowda, a Zilla Panchayat member, in 2016. A total of 21 individuals were initially named as accused in the case. However, two of them turned approvers, leaving 19 accused to face trial and eventual judgment.
The court, after detailed hearings and examination of evidence, held all 19 accused guilty in the case. Among them, Vinay Kulkarni was listed as Accused No. 15 (A15). The conviction has now raised serious political and legal implications for the Congress leader.
The list of convicted accused includes:
A2 Vikram Ballari,
A3 Keertikumar Bellatti,
A4 Sandeep Savadatti,
A5 Vinayak Katagi,
A6 Mahabaleshwar Hongal,
A7 Santosh Savadatti,
A8 Dinesh,
A9 Ashwath,
A10 Sunil,
A11 Nazeer Ahmed,
A12 Shanawaz,
A13 Nootan,
A14 Harshit C,
A15 Vinay Kulkarni,
A16 Chandrashekhar Indi,
A18 Vikas Kalburgi,
A19 Channakeshav Tingarikar,
A20 Vasudev Nayak,
A21 Somashekhar Nyamagouda.
Two accused, including Basavaraj Muttagi (A1), had earlier turned approvers and provided statements before the court, which played a key role in the trial proceedings.
Vinay Kulkarni, who had secured bail from the Supreme Court on February 28 earlier this year, now faces the prospect of returning to Jail following the conviction. The quantum of sentence is yet to be decided, with arguments on sentencing scheduled to begin tomorrow.
Legal experts indicate that if the sentence exceeds two years, Kulkarni could face disqualification as an MLA under existing laws. He is, however, expected to challenge the verdict in higher courts, including the High Court and Supreme Court.
Security was tightened around the court Complex as well as Kulkarni’s residence to prevent any untoward incidents following the verdict. Family members of the accused, including Kulkarni’s relatives, were present during the court proceedings.
The investigation, initially handled by state police, was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after a change in government. The CBI reportedly examined over 200 witnesses and gathered extensive evidence before filing charges against the accused.
With the conviction now pronounced, attention shifts to the sentencing phase, which will determine the future course for the accused, especially Vinay Kulkarni, both legally and politically.
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