MLA Vinay Kulkarni surrenders, taken into CBI custody in Yogish Gowda murder case

Dharwad Rural MLA Vinay Kulkarni surrendered before the Special People’s Representatives Court in Bengaluru on Friday and was immediately taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He is accused in the 2016 murder of Zilla Panchayat member Yogish Gowda.

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The surrender follows a Supreme Court order on June 6, which cancelled Kulkarni’s bail and directed him to surrender before the trial court within a week. Complying with the directive, the Congress leader appeared in court today, after which the CBI took him into custody.

Kulkarni, a prominent political figure from North Karnataka, will be interrogated by the CBI and is expected to be sent to Parappana Agrahara Central Prison upon completion of questioning.

The murder of Yogish Gowda, a BJP leader, had sparked widespread political controversy in Karnataka. The case was later transferred to the CBI, which named Kulkarni as one of the accused based on alleged political motives behind the crime.

Security was tightened around the court premises during the surrender, with a significant police presence to prevent any untoward incidents. The development marks a crucial turn in the high-profile case, which has lingered unresolved for nearly a decade.

The CBI’s next steps in the investigation are awaited, as Kulkarni’s custody could potentially lead to further revelations in the long-pending case.