Karnataka Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, 16 others including 4 cops also jailed

A Special Court for Elected Representatives in Bengaluru has sentenced Dharwad Congress MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni to life imprisonment for the murder of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda. 16 others were also given the same punishment for the 2016 murder.

Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat pronounced the quantum of sentence today, convicting Kulkarni under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 120B (criminal conspiracy). He was, however, acquitted of charges under the Arms Act. The case was investigated and charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The verdict follows the conviction of Kulkarni and 16 others on 15 April for the 15 June 2016 killing of Yogesh Gowda, who was hacked to death at a gymnasium in Saptapur, Dharwad. The case, initially investigated by local police, was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2019 amid allegations of political rivalry.

Special public prosecutors Shivananda Perla and S. Hemahad argued for “life imprisonment without remission” (till death) for the convicts. Kulkarni’s legal team had pleaded for leniency citing his family responsibilities, but the court rejected that plea.

Four police personnel, including the then Dharwad South Deputy SP and investigating officer Chennakeshava Tingrikar were also convicted. Tingrikar has been sentenced to 7 years in jail.

Kulkarni and the co-accused had been in judicial custody for the past three days. Addressing a request from Kulkarni and another accused regarding hygiene, the judge directed jail authorities to provide fresh clothes as per the Prisons Manual and permitted family members to supply additional clothing in the interim.

A conviction carrying a sentence of more than two years’ imprisonment is expected to trigger Kulkarni’s automatic disqualification as an MLA under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Kulkarni, who won the Dharwad Rural seat in the 2023 Assembly elections, has maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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