Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 16: In a major setback to the ruling Congress, a special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday convicted MLA Vinay Kulkarni and 15 others in the high-profile murder case of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda.
The court held Kulkarni guilty of criminal conspiracy and murder. The verdict was delivered by Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat of the Special Court for cases involving elected representatives.
The case history
The case dates back to June 15, 2016, when Yogesh Gowda was hacked to death at his gym in Dharwad. While local police initially handled the probe, the investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2019 following a request from Gowda's family after the BJP came to power in the state.
In its second supplementary charge sheet, the CBI named Kulkarni as accused number 15, booking him under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), among others. The CBI successfully argued that Kulkarni was the prime conspirator who orchestrated the killing to eliminate a rising political rival in his home constituency of Dharwad.
Convictions and acquittals
Alongside Kulkarni, the court convicted Vikram Bellary, Kirthi Kumar Basavaraj Kurahatti, Sandeep Saudatti, Vinayaka Katagi, Mahabaleshwar Hongal alias Muduka, Santhosh Saudatti, Dinesh M, Ashwath, Sunil, Nazeer Ahmed, Shahanawaz, Nuthan, Harshith, Chandrashekar Indi, and Vikas Kalburgi.
The court acquitted Kulkarni and Chandrashekar Indi of charges under the Arms Act due to a lack of prosecution sanction. Furthermore, Vasudeva Rama Nilekani and Somashekar Basappa Nyamagouda were acquitted, with the court extending them the benefit of doubt.
Perjury proceedings
Taking a serious view of witnesses turning hostile, the court directed the Registrar of the City Civil Court to initiate perjury proceedings under Section 340 of the CrPC against several individuals for providing false evidence.
Those facing perjury proceedings include police officers Shivananda Chalavadi, Babu Katagi, and Shankaragouda Basanagouda Patil, as well as several independent witnesses, including Vijay Kulkarni and Dr Dattatreya Gudaganti. The court also granted the prosecution liberty to seek sanction to prosecute Shivanand Shrishaila Biradar, an accused-turned-approver who later turned hostile during the trial.
Legal battle
Kulkarni was arrested by the CBI in 2020. Though he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in August 2021, the relief was cancelled on June 6, 2025, following allegations of violating bail conditions. Earlier this year, in January 2026, the High Court of Karnataka rejected his fresh bail plea, paving the way for the conclusion of the trial.