A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma delivered the order in response to a plea filed by the Karnataka government through CBI, the investigative agency.
Published Jun 07, 2025 | 8:25 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 07, 2025 | 8:25 AM
Vinay Kulkarni.
Synopsis: The Supreme Court has cancelled the bail of Karnataka Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni in the 2016 murder case of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, citing witness tampering.
The Supreme Court on Friday, 6 June, cancelled the bail granted to Karnataka Congress MLA and former Minister Vinay Rajashekharappa Kulkarni in connection with the 2016 murder of BJP zilla panchayat member Yogesh Gowda, LiveLaw reported.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma delivered the order in response to a plea filed by the Karnataka government through CBI, which, represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, alleged that Kulkarni had violated bail conditions by interfering with the judicial process and attempting to influence witnesses.
On Thursday, Kulkarni’s counsel had sought a week’s time to submit additional documents, terming the issue “a question of Article 21 rights”.
However, the Court declined the request, granting only one day to produce any relevant material.
Yogesh Gowda, a prominent BJP zilla panchayat member, was shot dead on 15 June 2016 in Dharwad.
The case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in September 2019 by the Karnataka government.
In November 2020, the CBI arrested Kulkarni, citing political rivalry and personal enmity as the motives for the murder.
According to the agency, Gowda had refused to withdraw from the 2016 zilla panchayat elections despite pressure from Kulkarni and his associates. Kulkarni has consistently denied any involvement in the case.
Kulkarni was granted bail in 2021 after spending nearly a year in custody.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
