Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni Moves Karnataka High Court Against Conviction, Life Sentence In Yogesh Goudar Murder Case
Sebin James
25 April 2026 9:55 PM IST
Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni has moved the Karnataka High Court in an appeal challenging trial court order convicting and sentencing him to life imprisonment for the murder of BJP Leader Yogesh Goudar.
For context, last week Special Court Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat had pronounced the quantum of sentence 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 court had said.
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.
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