Published Apr 26, 2026 | 4:19 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 26, 2026 | 4:19 PM
The ruling Congress has stood firmly behind Kulkarni, a prominent Lingayat leader.
Synopsis: Dharwad MLA Vinay Kulkarni has moved the Karnataka High Court against his conviction and life sentence for the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, asking that both be set aside. The ruling Congress has backed him, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar calling the conviction a “conspiracy” and saying relief will come from a higher court.
Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni has moved the Karnataka High Court against his conviction and life sentence for the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, asking that both be set aside. The petitions are yet to be listed for hearing.
A special court for MPs and MLAs on 15 April found Kulkarni, who represents the Dharwad Assembly constituency, guilty of criminal conspiracy and murder under the IPC. Two days later, it sentenced him to life imprisonment and fined him ₹30,000.
Gowda was hacked to death at his gym in Dharwad after he refused demands to step back from the 2016 Zilla Panchayat election, according to the prosecution. This led to personal enmity, and Kulkarni hatched a conspiracy to kill him.
Kulkarni had earlier approached the Supreme Court against a High Court order that upheld criminal charges against him and 20 others, but the apex court refused to set aside the charges.
More than a week after Vinay Kulkarni’s conviction, the Speaker’s office has not initiated disqualification proceedings against him.
Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, a sentence of at least two years in a criminal case triggers disqualification unless a higher court stays the conviction.
Speaker UT Khader on 20 April said his office would take a call only after it “officially receives intimation” of the life sentence. Responding to reports that Kulkarni would appeal, he said, “If he does so, then he will continue as the MLA.”
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The ruling Congress has stood firmly behind Kulkarni, a prominent Lingayat leader.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he ‘respects the court’ but the conviction was a “conspiracy” by the BJP. He said Kulkarni had “sworn on God” that he did not commit the crime.
“A major conspiracy has taken place here. A CBI investigation was conducted and harassment was carried out at the time of filing the B report. Vinay Kulkarni has also been trapped in this conspiracy,” he told reporters on 17 April.
“I still believe in him to this day. The court’s verdict must be respected. In my view, he has not done anything wrong. I will work to provide moral strength to his family. Workers should not lose courage. Truth will ultimately prevail.”
He added that similar conspiracies had been hatched against him and said “justice would be served in a higher court in this case too.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
