Greeva Garg –
Published on: August 20, 2021, at 12:27 IST
A Special Court in Bengaluru granted bail to former Karnataka Minister Vinay Kulkarni accused in 2016 murder case of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Yogesh Gowda in Dharwad. Kulkarni was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Kulkarni, who was minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government, is accused of destroying the evidence in the murder of his political opponent and Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda.
Earlier on August 11, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Kulkarni who is also an accused in the murder case. The bench of Supreme Court comprising of Justice Uday Lalit and Justice Ajay Rastogi while granting the bail said that, “The accused should not visit Dharwad during the bail period and should visit the CBI office every week. The bail will be cancelled if the accused attempts to tamper with the evidence again.”
However, even after the grant of bail by the Supreme Court, he was not released from Hindalga Jail in Belagavi where he was imprisoned since November 5, 2020, in regard to the case filed in Special Court on grounds of destroying the evidence in connection to murder case.
During the recent hearing, in case of Vinay attempting to destroy evidence, Justice B Jayantkumar heard the arguments by the counsels of CBI and Vinay Kulkarni.
Referring the Supreme Court’s Order, the Special Court has also granted bail to Kulkarni but restraining him to enter Dharwad during bail period.
Yogesh Gowda, a BJP member of the zilla panchayat from Hebballi constituency was murdered at his gym in Saptapur, Dharwad on June 15, 2016. Arresting Basavaraj Mutagi along with five other persons, Local Police cited land dispute as the reason for the murder.
However, Yogesh’s family members pointed fingers at Kulkarni behind the murder conspiracy and demanded for a CBI investigation, which was declined by the State Government.
Yogesh’s family members approached High Court seeking CBI probe in the murder case, but the Court rejected their plea stating them mere suspicion.
With change in course of investigation, BJP Government ordered CBI probe and subsequently Vinay Kulkarni was arrested accused of masterminding the murder and trying to destroy evidences.