BENGALURU: In a landmark ruling, the Special Court for Elected Representatives sentenced Congress MLA and former Karnataka minister Vinay Kulkarni and 16 others to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogeshgouda Goudar. Special Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat delivered the quantum of punishment on Friday, following a conviction handed down earlier in the week. The court found the Dharwad Rural MLA and his co-accused guilty of murder (Section 302) and criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) under the Indian Penal Code. The case was investigated and charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Special public prosecutors Shivananda Perla and S. Hemahad argued for “life imprisonment without remission” (till death), emphasizing that the involvement of a sitting legislator warranted a sentence that sent a strong message to society. Although Kulkarni’s legal team pleaded for leniency citing his family responsibilities, the court upheld the severity of the crime.
Case Background
Yogeshgouda Goudar, a BJP Zilla Panchayat member, was brutally hacked to death at his gym in Dharwad on June 15, 2016. While the local police initially handled the investigation, the case was transferred to the CBI in 2019 after political pressure and allegations that Kulkarni, then a district in-charge minister, orchestrated the killing to eliminate a rising political rival.
Impact and Disqualification
As a result of the life sentence, Kulkarni faces immediate disqualification from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly under the Representation of the People Act, which mandates removal of any elected representative sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more.
Timeline of the Yogeshgouda Goudar Murder Case
- June 15, 2016: Yogeshgouda Goudar was murdered by assailants at his gym in Saptapur, Dharwad.
- 2016–2018: The initial investigation by local police led to the arrest of six individuals; Kulkarni’s name was not initially in the main chargesheet.
- September 2019: Following a change in state government, the case was officially handed over to the CBI.
- November 5, 2020: The CBI arrested Vinay Kulkarni, naming him the “main conspirator.”
- August 11, 2021: The Supreme Court granted Kulkarni conditional bail, including a ban on entering Dharwad district.
- June 7, 2025: The Supreme Court cancelled his bail after evidence emerged of attempts to influence or tamper with witnesses.
- February 27, 2026: Kulkarni was granted bail again by the apex court after all key witnesses were examined, with a directive to conclude the trial quickly.
- April 15, 2026: Special Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat convicted Kulkarni and 16 others for murder and conspiracy; the CBI took all convicts into immediate custody.
- April 17, 2026: The court pronounced life imprisonment for all 17 convicts.
