Published Jul 31, 2026 | 12:48 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2026 | 1:14 PM
Vinay Kulkarni. Credit: facebook.com/vinaykulkarni.official
Synopsis: The Karnataka High Court has stayed the conviction of former Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni in the 2016 murder case of BJP Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Goudar.
In a major relief to former Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, the Karnataka High Court on Friday, 31 July, stayed his conviction in the 2016 murder case of BJP leader Yogesh Goudar.
The court suspended the life sentence imposed on Kulkarni and directed that he be released on bail, pending disposal of his criminal appeal and subject to conditions including furnishing a bond of Rs. 5 lakhs with 2 sureties of like amount and not leaving the country without prior permission from the court.
The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justice Mohammed Nawaz and Justice G. Basavaraja, allowing Kulkarni’s pleas seeking suspension of both the conviction and sentence.
The High Court’s decision means the conviction will remain inoperative until the appeal is decided, while the trial court’s judgment will now be examined on the merits during the appeal proceedings.
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Kulkarni was convicted by a Bengaluru special court for MPs/MLAs earlier this year for his alleged role in the conspiracy related to the murder of BJP’s Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Goudar. He and other accused were sentenced to life imprisonment.
The CBI, which started the probe into the murder after the case was transferred to it in 2019, had opposed Kulkarni’s plea, arguing against suspension of the conviction. The High Court, however, granted interim relief, enabling his release from prison while the appeal is pending.
The incident dates back to 2016. BJP leader Yogesh Goudar was allegedly murdered by an armed gang at his gym in Saptapur in Dharwad. On the complaint of Goudar’s wife, an FIR was registered with the Dharwad Sub-Urban Police Station, leading to the arrest of six people, before the case was taken over by the CBI.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
