Bengaluru, April 16 (NationPress) Former Karnataka Minister and now-convicted Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni appeared before the Special MLAs/MPs Court in Bengaluru on Thursday regarding the murder case of BJP leader and Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda. He asserted that after 26 years in politics, he has never caused harm to anyone.

On Wednesday, the Special Court for MLAs/MPs in Bengaluru found Vinay Kulkarni guilty of charges related to the murder of Yogesh Gowda.

The ruling came at the conclusion of an extensive trial.

Kulkarni, identified as accused number 15, currently holds the position of Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board.

The court determined his involvement in a criminal conspiracy.

During his statement before the court, Kulkarni expressed, "This case has been politically motivated. I have two daughters at marriageable age and a son. I have contested in Lok Sabha elections and manage a farm with 3,500 cows. I have not caused any trouble in my constituency."

Senior counsel Shyam Sundar, representing the accused, argued that life imprisonment should be viewed as the maximum penalty, equating it to a death sentence. He requested a verdict that would allow for reformation.

He emphasized that Vinay Kulkarni is a democratically elected legislator, an industrialist, and a caretaker of over 3,000 cows, highlighting the trust placed in him by thousands.

Additionally, counsel Parameshwarappa pointed out that the accused have familial responsibilities and requested leniency in sentencing.

Meanwhile, CBI representatives noted that the slain BJP leader left behind three children, urging the court to consider suitable compensation for them.

Earlier, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the CBI, called for the harshest punishment for Vinay Kulkarni and the other accused in this murder case. He characterized the act as a cold-blooded conspiracy.

According to ASG Raju, the victim, Yogesh Gowda, was targeted due to political animosity.

He explained that initial surrenders by other individuals in the case only revealed the full truth after a CBI inquiry.

ASG Raju contended that as a legislator, Kulkarni should be a custodian of the law, yet he orchestrated the murder.

He accused the accused of misusing police powers and breaching constitutional norms.

He further revealed that Yogesh Gowda was brutally killed with chilli powder thrown into his eyes, and evidence was manipulated.

According to ASG Raju, Kulkarni abused his position as an MLA and Minister to manipulate the legal system.

In other developments, the case approver witness Basavaraj Muttagi visited the Ganesh temple at KCD Circle in Dharwad, offering prayers under CRPF protection.

He conveyed to the media that his real struggle begins now and expressed guilt for his prior involvement in the conspiracy.

A total of 21 individuals were implicated by the CBI, with 17 found guilty and two becoming approvers.

The court has convicted 19 individuals.

The main approver, Basavaraj Muttagi, provided evidence, while accused number 17, Shivanand, later turned hostile.

Thus, the CBI has sought to reinstate charges against Shivanand.

The guilty parties include Vikram, Keerthi Kumar, Sandeep, Vinayak, Mahabaleshwar alias Mudaka, Santosh, Dinesh, Ashwath, Sunil, Nazeer Ahmed, Shanawaz, Nutan, Harshit, Vinay Kulkarni, Chandru Mama, Vikas Kalaburagi, and Channakeshava Tingarikar.

Simultaneously, the court granted release to Vasudev Nilekani and Somashekar.

This case dates back to 2016, and the court will determine the fate of an additional 21 accused.

The state government had transferred the case to the CBI.

When allegations arose, Kulkarni was the district in-charge Minister.

Yogesh Gowda was attacked by assailants at a gym in Dharwad city on June 15, 2016, after he politically challenged Vinay Kulkarni.

Kulkarni was arrested in 2020 and later released on bail in 2021. Following claims of witness tampering, the CBI requested the cancellation of his bail, which the court upheld.

Subsequently, Kulkarni surrendered and was recently granted bail again.

He was implicated in the conspiracy to murder Yogesh Gowda during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister under the Siddaramaiah government. Although initially unprosecuted, the BJP later capitalized on the issue, with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa pledging at election rallies to ensure Kulkarni's imprisonment if the BJP assumed power.

Eventually, the CBI took over the case, leading to Kulkarni's arrest. He spent over nine months in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court.