Yogesh Gowda murder case: some police gave false evidence, says special court
Bengaluru : In a significant development, a special court in Bengaluru has sentenced Congress MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni and 15 others to life imprisonment in connection with the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda.
The verdict, delivered by Special Court Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, who handles criminal cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs, also raised serious concerns about the conduct of certain witnesses and police officials during the trial.
The case, initially investigated by state police, was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following allegations of bias and lack of impartiality. The CBI subsequently filed a chargesheet based on its probe into the murder.
While pronouncing the judgment, the court made sharp observations regarding discrepancies in witness testimonies. It noted that several prosecution witnesses had initially given statements before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, detailing the circumstances surrounding the murder.
However, during the trial, many of these witnesses reportedly turned hostile and claimed that they had been pressured by CBI officials to depose in a particular manner. Some even alleged that their earlier statements were not voluntary.
The court also took note of testimony from a police inspector who admitted to providing false statements before the magistrate out of fear of the investigating agency. Similar patterns were observed in the statements of multiple prosecution witnesses, raising serious concerns about the integrity of evidence presented.
Despite these claims, the court observed that none of the witnesses or officials had lodged formal complaints about alleged coercion at the time, either with higher authorities or before the court. This, the judge noted, weakened the credibility of their later assertions.
The court strongly criticised the act of giving false evidence, stating that such conduct undermines public confidence in the justice delivery system. It emphasised that strict action may be necessary to deter such practices and uphold the sanctity of judicial proceedings.
The conviction and sentencing mark a crucial milestone in a case that has remained politically sensitive in Karnataka for nearly a decade. The ruling is expected to have wider political ramifications, given the involvement of a sitting MLA.
Legal experts say the judgment highlights not only the seriousness of the crime but also the challenges faced in ensuring credible witness testimony in high-profile cases. The focus may now shift to possible appeals and further legal proceedings in higher courts.
