Bengaluru: In a major development that has sent ripples through Karnataka’s political corridors, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 12 took senior Congress leader and sitting MLA Vinay Kulkarni into custody in connection with the high-profile murder case of BJP leader Yogish Gowda. The development comes after the Supreme Court recently cancelled Kulkarni’s bail, citing violations of bail conditions and alleged witness tampering.
The MLA, who represents the Dharwad assembly constituency, surrendered before the Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru earlier today, following the Supreme Court’s directive. Acting on the court’s instructions, CBI officials swiftly took him into custody. He is expected to be moved to the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison following preliminary interrogation.
The case dates back to June 15, 2016, when Yogish Gowda, a Zilla Panchayat member from the Hebballi constituency in Dharwad, was brutally murdered inside a gym he owned. The crime shocked the state and led to widespread demand for justice from the BJP and Gowda’s supporters. In a significant twist to the investigation, the CBI arrested Vinay Kulkarni on November 5, 2020, after taking over the probe and alleging that the murder was politically motivated.
The recent action against Kulkarni was precipitated by a Supreme Court order that cancelled the bail granted to him in 2021. The apex court observed that Kulkarni had violated the conditions of bail by allegedly influencing and contacting witnesses involved in the case. CBI had submitted evidence claiming that the MLA had offered a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to a witness, prompting the agency to seek cancellation of his bail.
Following the bail cancellation, the Supreme Court instructed Kulkarni to surrender within one week. Complying with this order, Kulkarni presented himself in court today, where he was taken into custody.
Prior to surrendering, Kulkarni held a meeting with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, reportedly seeking political backing amidst the legal crisis. However, no assurances came from the meeting. Addressing the media after the meeting, Kulkarni maintained his innocence and expressed confidence in the judicial process. “I have not met any witness or contacted anyone related to the case. I respect the court’s direction, but I also believe that politics is being played behind the scenes to ensure I go to jail again,” he stated.
High Court denies bail to Chandrashekar Indy in Yogesh Gowda murder case
In a significant legal setback to one of the key accused in the politically sensitive Yogesh Gowda murder case, the Karnataka High Court on Friday has refused to grant bail to Chandrashekar Indy, who has been listed as the 16th accused in the case.
Justice S. Rachaiah, who presided over a single-member bench hearing the criminal petition filed by Indy, pronounced the order after carefully examining the submissions made by both sides. The court upheld an earlier ruling issued by the Special Court for Criminal Cases against MLAs and MPs, which had cancelled Chandrashekar’s bail citing attempts to tamper with witnesses.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the murder of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member and BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, had strongly opposed the bail plea. The agency submitted that Chandrashekar, while out on bail, had influenced key witnesses linked to the case, thereby violating bail conditions and jeopardizing the integrity of the trial.
Taking cognizance of the CBI’s submissions, Judge Santosh Gajanana Bhat of the Special Court had earlier allowed the cancellation of Chandrashekar’s bail. Challenging that order, Chandrashekar had moved the High Court seeking reprieve. However, in a detailed hearing, Justice Rachaiah observed that the gravity of the allegations and the potential impact on witnesses were serious enough to warrant a rejection of the bail petition.
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