Karnataka HC issues CBI notice in Congress MLA Kulkarni murder case appeal
Synopsis
Congress MLA and life-term convict Vinay Kulkarni is fighting his murder conviction in the Karnataka High Court, even as a whistle-blower demands his disqualification from the Assembly. With all seven witnesses having turned hostile and a 680-page judgment under scrutiny, the case raises sharp questions about political accountability and the pace of justice in legislator crime trials.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka High Court issued notice to the CBI on 28 April in the appeal filed by Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni against his life sentence.
The Special Court for MLAs/MPs sentenced Kulkarni to life imprisonment on 17 April for the murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda in Dharwad on 15 June 2016 .
Senior counsel argued all seven witnesses had turned hostile; prosecution needs four weeks to respond to the 680-page judgment.
Co-accused Chandrashekar Indi alias Chandu Mama has also filed a separate appeal.
Whistle-blower Basavaraj Koravar has written to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker demanding Kulkarni's disqualification, citing 10 days of inaction since the conviction.
Kulkarni is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison and holds the post of Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board .
The Karnataka High Court on 28 April issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after hearing an appeal filed by Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, a life-term convict challenging the verdict of the Special Court for MLAs/MPs in the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yogesh Gowda. The division bench has also directed the High Court registry to procure all relevant case documents from the lower court.
Bench Composition and Proceedings
The division bench, headed by Justice Mohammad Nawaz and Justice Venkatesh T. Naik, took up the appeal for the first time and noted that it would need to hear the CBI's submissions before proceeding further. Along with Kulkarni, listed as accused number 15, co-accused Chandrashekar Indi alias Chandu Mama (accused number 16) has also filed a separate appeal.
Senior counsel C.V. Nagesh, appearing for Kulkarni, argued that all seven witnesses in the case had turned hostile. He also requested that the matter be heard by the vacation bench, given the approaching court holidays. The bench accepted the request and directed that a petition be filed before the vacation bench, with an assurance that the petitioner would be heard.
Prosecution Seeks Time, Cites 680-Page Judgment
The prosecution sought four weeks to file its objections to the appeal petition, which seeks an immediate stay on the Special Court's verdict. Prosecutors submitted that the judgment runs into 680 pages and requires detailed examination before a response can be filed. The court took note of the submission without granting an immediate stay.
Whistle-Blower Writes to Speaker, Seeks Disqualification
In a related development, social activist Basavaraj Koravar, the whistle-blower in the case, has written to the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, seeking the disqualification of Vinay Kulkarni following his conviction and life sentence. Koravar noted that the Special Court delivered its verdict on 17 April, sentencing Kulkarni to life imprisonment, but that no disqualification action had been taken even 10 days after the order. He urged the Speaker to act in accordance with the law without further delay.
Background: The Murder of Yogesh Gowda
BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda was hacked to death by a group of assailants at his own gym in Dharwad city on 15 June 2016. Gowda had reportedly challenged Kulkarni politically, and the killing was subsequently linked to that rivalry. The case was handed over to the CBI by the then-BJP government in Karnataka.
Kulkarni 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. Kulkarni subsequently surrendered and was released on bail again before the conviction. He is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison. At the time the allegations surfaced, Kulkarni was serving as a minister and district in-charge minister. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board.
With the High Court now formally notifying the CBI and the disqualification question looming over the Karnataka Assembly, the legal and political fallout from the 2016 murder is far from settled.
Point of View
Time-bound disqualification mechanism for convicted legislators. Ten days after a life sentence, Kulkarni remains an MLA and a board chairman — a situation that a whistle-blower, not the system, has had to flag. The hostile-witness problem, cited by his own counsel as a defence, is itself an indictment of witness protection in high-profile political cases. If all seven witnesses turned hostile in a CBI-investigated murder trial, the question is not just about one conviction — it is about how reliably the system can prosecute crimes where the accused holds political power.
NationPress
5 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Karnataka High Court issued notice to the CBI in the Vinay Kulkarni case?
The Karnataka High Court issued notice to the CBI because Kulkarni's appeal against his life sentence — handed down by the Special Court for MLAs/MPs — has been formally taken up for the first time, and the bench stated it needs to hear the CBI's submissions before proceeding. The CBI investigated the case and filed the chargesheet in the murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda.
Who was Yogesh Gowda and how was he killed?
Yogesh Gowda was a BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat member who was hacked to death at his gym in Dharwad city on 15 June 2016. He had reportedly challenged Vinay Kulkarni politically, and the killing was subsequently linked to that rivalry.
Can Vinay Kulkarni be disqualified as an MLA after his conviction?
Under Indian law, a legislator convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to two or more years in prison is liable for disqualification. Social activist Basavaraj Koravar has written to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker demanding immediate action, noting that 10 days passed after the conviction with no steps taken.
What is the current status of Vinay Kulkarni?
Kulkarni is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison following his conviction. He continues to hold the post of Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, though his disqualification as an MLA is being actively sought by the whistle-blower in the case.
Why did the prosecution ask for four weeks to respond to the appeal?
The prosecution sought four weeks to file its objections because the Special Court's judgment runs into 680 pages and requires detailed examination before a formal response can be submitted to the High Court.
