Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni's Appeal Against Conviction, Life Term In Yogesh Goudar Murder Case

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (April 28) issued notice on Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni's appeal challenging a trial court order convicting and sentencing him to life imprisonment for the murder of BJP Leader Yogesh Goudar. 

The division bench of Justice Venkatesh Naik and Justice Mohammed Nawaz issued notice to the CBI and asked the high court's registry to secure the trial court record.

As senior advocate C V Nagesh appearing for Kulkarni pressed for listing of the matter on April 30, the court granted liberty to the appellant to approach the vacation bench of the court in case of any urgency. The court also noted CBI's submission that the trial court judgment runs into 680 pages and they may be granted sufficient time to file objections. 

The court said that CBI can seek the time they require for filing response before the Vacation Bench when the matter is taken up.

For context, on April 16, Special Court Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat had pronounced the quantum of sentence as life term imprisonment wherein the accused, including Vinay Kulkarni were physically present. 

The accused, if they fail to pay the fine amount, would be required to undergo further imprisonment for three months, the special court had said in the judgment. 

The trial court had also awarded Rs 16 Lakhs as compensation to the children of the deceased BJP Leader. Accused 2-16 and Accused 18 in the case have been awarded with life imprisonment. Accused -19 Chennakeshva Tingarikar, the investigating officer at the time, has been sentenced to 7 years of jail time.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier argued before the trial court that life imprisonment without remission must be awarded to Kulkarni and others.  On April 15, the special court convicted Kulkarni and sixteen others in the murder case.

Co-accused Chandrashekhar has also moved an appeal who was represented by senior advocate S Nagamuthu and advocate Shyam Sundar. 

Background

As per reports, accused number 1- Basavaraj Muttagi and accused No. 17-Shivanada Shrishaila Biradar had turned approvers. Additionally, the court acquitted accused No. 20 Vasudev and accused No. 21 Somashekhar Nyamagoud, giving them the benefit of doubt.

Yogesh Goudar, a zilla panchayat member of the BJP from Hebballi constituency, was murdered by an armed gang at his gym in Saptapur in Dharwad in 2016. An FIR was registered with the Dharwad Sub-Urban Police Station at the instance of the deceased's wife. The Dharwad Police subsequent to his murder arrested six persons and charge sheeted them for murder. The probe was later transferred to CBI.

On December 6, 2023 the Special Court framed charges against all the accused including the petitioner for offences punishable under sections 143, 147, 148, 120-B, 302, 201 read with Section 149 of IPC and also for the offences punishable under Section 25 read with Sections 3, 5, 8 and 29 of the Arms Act, 1959.

On April 8, 2024, the High Court upheld the charge framed by the Special Court against Kulkarni and 20 others. In June, 2024 the Supreme Court dismissed the SLP filed against the High Court order.

Case Title: Vinay Rajshekarappa Kulkarni v/s State of Karnataka

Case No: CRL.A 764/2026