Bengaluru, April 16, 2026: In a dramatic turn during the quantum of punishment hearing in one of Karnataka’s most politically charged murder cases, convicted Congress MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni on Thursday pleaded for leniency from a special court, declaring, “In politics for 26 years, harmed no one.”
Kulkarni, the sitting MLA from Dharwad, made the emotional personal statement before Special Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat as the court heard final arguments on sentencing following his conviction a day earlier. The judge has now reserved the order on the quantum of sentence for April 17.
# The Case: A Decade-Old Political Murder
The conviction stems from the brutal murder of 26-year-old BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda (also referred to as Yogeshgouda Goudar) on June 15, 2016, at a gym in Saptapur, Dharwad. According to the CBI chargesheet, a group of assailants threw chilli powder in Gowda’s eyes before hacking him to death. The probe agency alleged that Kulkarni — then a cabinet minister and district in-charge in the Congress government — was the prime conspirator, driven by political rivalry. Gowda, a rising local BJP leader, had challenged Kulkarni’s influence in Dharwad.
The CBI took over the investigation in 2019 after the BJP came to power in the state and filed a chargesheet against 21 accused. Kulkarni was named accused No. 15. The trial, conducted in a special court for MPs and MLAs in Bengaluru, examined over 100 witnesses.
On April 15, 2026, the court convicted Kulkarni and 16 others (reports vary slightly between 15–18 co-accused convicted) under key sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 302 (murder)
- Section 120B (criminal conspiracy)
- Sections 143, 147, and 148 (unlawful assembly, rioting)
He was acquitted of charges under the Arms Act due to lack of sanction. Two accused were released, and two others had turned approvers.
Kulkarni’s bail history has been turbulent: arrested in 2020, granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2021, but the apex court cancelled it in June 2025 over allegations of witness tampering. He was rearrested and later granted fresh bail before the verdict.
# Thursday’s Hearing: Plea for Leniency
During Thursday’s hearing on the quantum of sentence, Kulkarni broke down as the conviction was read out earlier and used his personal statement to appeal for mercy. He told the court:
“The case has been filed for political reasons. I have two daughters who have reached marriageable age and a son. I contested the Lok Sabha election as well. I am an agriculturist and take care of 3,500 cows. I have not troubled anyone in my constituency.”
His senior counsel, Shyam Sundar, argued that a life sentence would be “equivalent to a death sentence” and urged the court to consider scope for reformation. He described Kulkarni as a people’s representative, an industrialist, and a dairy farmer who rears more than 3,000 cows, with thousands of people depending on him — factors that reflect “good character.” Another counsel, Parameshwarappa, highlighted the family responsibilities of the accused.
The CBI, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, pushed for the harshest punishment — a remission-less life term. Raju described the killing as a “cold-blooded murder” orchestrated through conspiracy, with the accused allegedly misusing police machinery, fabricating evidence, and destroying proof. He demanded compensation for Gowda’s three surviving children.
# Political Fallout and What Lies Ahead
A conviction carrying a sentence of two years or more would automatically disqualify Kulkarni as an MLA under the Representation of the People Act, triggering a by-election in the Dharwad constituency. His political career, spanning 26 years, now hangs in the balance.
The case has already sent ripples through Karnataka politics. Congress leaders have maintained silence or called it a politically motivated case, while the BJP has highlighted it as proof of “Congress’s criminal politics.” Victim Yogesh Gowda’s sister has publicly demanded a life term, stating the family seeks justice.
An approver in the case, Basavaraj Muttagi, was seen offering prayers at a Ganesh temple in Dharwad on Thursday under CRPF security, telling media that his “real struggle begins now.”
The special court’s decision on Friday will not only determine Kulkarni’s immediate fate but could reshape the political landscape in north Karnataka ahead of future elections. The verdict is being closely watched as a test case of accountability for elected representatives in high-profile criminal cases.
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