Karnataka HC seeks reply on ex-MLA Vinay Kulkarni's appeal in Yogesh Gowda murder case
Synopsis
Former Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, convicted for the 2016 hacking murder of BJP's Yogesh Gowda in Dharwad, has moved the Karnataka High Court challenging his life sentence. With his MLA seat already cancelled post-conviction, the CBI has sought time to file objections — and the next date is 26 May.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka High Court vacation bench took up Vinay Kulkarni's appeal against his life-term conviction on 7 May .
Yogesh Gowda , a BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat Member, was hacked to death at a gym in Dharwad on 15 June 2016 .
Kulkarni's MLA position was cancelled on 15 April following the conviction; he is listed as accused number 15 .
The CBI sought additional time to file objections; the bench adjourned the matter to 26 May .
Police Circle Inspector Channakeshava Tingarikar , sentenced to seven years , sought bail separately; his matter was adjourned to 14 May .
The Karnataka High Court vacation bench on 7 May took up the appeal petition filed by former Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, who was convicted for the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Zilla Panchayat Member Yogesh Gowda, and sought a reply from the prosecution. The matter was heard before a Division Bench headed by Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum and Justice Rajesh Rai, which adjourned the case to 26 May.
Background of the Case
Yogesh Gowda was hacked to death by a group of assailants at a gym in Dharwad city on 15 June 2016. Gowda had reportedly been a political challenger to Kulkarni, who was at the time serving as a minister and district in-charge minister. The case was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the state government.
Kulkarni, listed as accused number 15 in the case, was arrested in 2020 and released on bail in 2021. He was later accused of influencing witnesses, following which the CBI sought cancellation of his bail, alleging violation of bail conditions. The court accepted the plea and revoked his bail.
Conviction and Aftermath
Kulkarni was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Following the conviction, his MLA position was cancelled on 15 April. In the current proceedings, Kulkarni is challenging the life-term conviction and has sought a stay on the verdict. He was reportedly expecting bail and a stay on the conviction order.
Another accused, Chandrashekar Indi, has also filed a separate appeal petition in the same case.
CBI Seeks Time, Hearing Adjourned
As the hearing commenced, counsel appearing for the CBI submitted that objections relating to the petition were yet to be filed and sought additional time. The bench accepted the request and adjourned the matter to 26 May.
Separate Petition by Police Officer
In the same case, counsel representing Police Circle Inspector Channakeshava Tingarikar — sentenced to seven years' imprisonment — submitted that his client's appeal had initially been listed before a single-judge bench, which later clubbed it with petitions filed by the other accused. The counsel argued that only bailable offences had been invoked against his client and sought bail accordingly. The Division Bench observed that Tingarikar's petition could be heard separately and adjourned that matter to 14 May, according to sources.
With the next hearing scheduled for 26 May, the case continues to test the intersection of political accountability and judicial process in Karnataka.
Point of View
Given that Kulkarni was a minister at the time of the alleged crime. The bail revocation history — arrested 2020, bailed 2021, bail cancelled for witness tampering — raises serious questions about institutional safeguards in high-profile political crime cases. The High Court's handling of the appeal, particularly whether it grants a stay on conviction, will be closely watched as a test of judicial firmness in cases involving elected representatives.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vinay Kulkarni and what is he accused of?
Vinay Kulkarni is a former Congress MLA from Karnataka who has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat Member Yogesh Gowda. Gowda was hacked to death at a gym in Dharwad on 15 June 2016, and Kulkarni, listed as accused number 15, was found to have been involved in orchestrating the killing.
What happened to Vinay Kulkarni's MLA seat after conviction?
Kulkarni's MLA position was cancelled on 15 April following his conviction. He is now challenging the life-term sentence before the Karnataka High Court and was reportedly seeking bail and a stay on the conviction order.
What is the current status of the Karnataka HC hearing?
The Karnataka High Court vacation bench adjourned the matter to 26 May after the CBI sought additional time to file objections to Kulkarni's appeal petition. A separate petition by Police Circle Inspector Channakeshava Tingarikar was adjourned to 14 May.
Why was Vinay Kulkarni's bail revoked earlier?
Kulkarni was arrested in 2020 and granted bail in 2021, but the CBI later sought cancellation of his bail, alleging he had violated bail conditions by influencing witnesses. The court accepted the plea and revoked his bail.
What role did the CBI play in this case?
The state government handed over the Yogesh Gowda murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI has been the prosecuting agency throughout, and in the current High Court proceedings, it has sought time to file objections to Kulkarni's appeal against his life-term conviction.
