Vinay Kulkarni moves high court seeking stay on life sentence in Yogesh Gowda murder case

Bengaluru  ;In a significant development in the high-profile murder case of Yogesh Gowda, convicted accused including Vinay Kulkarni have approached the Karnataka High Court seeking relief. Kulkarni, along with co-convict Chandrashekhar Indi, has filed an appeal challenging the life imprisonment verdict delivered by the special court for elected representatives.

The petition seeks a stay on the life sentence and requests that the conviction be kept in abeyance until the appeal is heard in detail. Legal sources indicate that the matter is likely to come up for hearing on April 27. The move is being closely watched, particularly due to its political implications.

Sources suggest that Kulkarni’s decision to file the appeal is also driven by concerns over potential disqualification from his legislative position. As per legal provisions, failure to secure a stay within 90 days of conviction could lead to disqualification, making the High Court appeal crucial for his political future.

The case dates back to 2016, when Yogesh Gowda, a Zilla Panchayat member from Dharwad, was brutally murdered. The investigation initially drew widespread attention due to allegations of political rivalry. The case was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation by the then BJP government in Karnataka.

After a prolonged investigation spanning nearly a decade, the CBI filed a detailed chargesheet against multiple accused. The special court eventually found 16 individuals guilty on charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, unlawful assembly, and assault with deadly weapons.

While two accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence, the remaining convicts, including Kulkarni, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Additionally, a police inspector was awarded seven years of imprisonment for corruption-related charges linked to the case.

Following the conviction, all accused were taken into custody, underwent medical examination, and were later lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. The court also directed that compensation of ₹16 lakh be provided to the family of the deceased, recognising the loss suffered by Gowda’s children.

With the appeal now before the High Court, the case has entered a new legal phase. The outcome of the hearing will not only determine the immediate fate of the convicted individuals but could also have broader political ramifications in Karnataka.