Yogesh Goudar murder: Vinay Kulkarni appeals against conviction, Karnataka HC orders notice to CBI

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday ordered notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the criminal appeals filed by Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni and co-accused Chandrashekar Indi, challenging their conviction in the murder of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogeshgouda Goudar.

A division bench comprising Justices Mohammed Nawaz and Justice Venkatesh Naik T said that the matter cannot be heard on merit now and said that the appellant was at liberty to approach the vacation bench of the court in case of any urgency.

The petitioners Vinay Kulkarni and Chandrashekar Indi challenged the special court’ judgment convicting and sentencing them to life imprisonment. When the appeals came up for hearing, senior advocate C V Nagesh, appearing for the appellant Vinay Kulkarni, pressed for listing of the matter on April 30 enabling him to argue for interim relief. However, the division bench pointed out that the matter cannot be heard on merits now and gave liberty to approach the vacation bench in case of urgency.

Meanwhile, the CBI counsel submitted that the special court's judgment runs into 680 pages, and they should be granted sufficient time to go through the appeal and file objections. The matters have been adjourned.

On April 15, the special court for cases involving elected representatives had convicted Vinay Kulkarni and 16 others for the murder. The special court had also awarded Rs 16 lakh compensation to the children of the deceased. Chennakeshava Tingarikar, the investigation officer at the initial stage of the probe, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

Goudar was murdered at his gym in Dharwad by hired assailants on June 15, 2016. Goudar’s family alleged that he had received death threats before the murder. The local police initially had arrested six persons in the case. The CBI case was that Vinay Kulkarni was the main conspirator in the murder of Goudar. Vinay Kulkarni, who was district in-charge minister at the relevant time, did not want Goudar to grow as a leader in Dharwad.