A special court in Bengaluru has sentenced Vinay Kulkarni to life imprisonment in the murder case of BJP leader Yogeshgouda Goudar.
The court also awarded life imprisonment to 16 others convicted in connection with the case.
Convicted under conspiracy and murder charges
Earlier this week, Special Court Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat convicted Kulkarni and the co-accused under various IPC sections, including criminal conspiracy and murder.
During sentencing, the Central Bureau of Investigation reportedly sought life imprisonment without remission for Kulkarni.
His defence counsel requested leniency, citing his public service, political career, and family responsibilities.
2016 Dharwad killing
The case relates to the murder of Yogeshgouda Goudar, a BJP zilla panchayat member, who was attacked and hacked to death inside a gym in Dharwad on June 15, 2016.
Kulkarni was a minister at the time of the incident.
Investigators alleged that Goudar was seen as a rising political rival in Dharwad and that hired assailants were used to eliminate him.
Case handed to CBI
Following demands from the victim’s family and political leaders, the then BJP government transferred the case to the CBI in 2019.
The agency later filed a supplementary chargesheet naming Kulkarni as the main conspirator.
Kulkarni was arrested in 2020 and later granted bail by the Supreme Court of India in 2021 with conditions.
However, his bail was cancelled in 2025 over allegations of witness tampering. He was granted bail again in February 2026 after all witnesses had been examined.
Likely political fallout
Following conviction and sentencing, Kulkarni is likely to face disqualification as an MLA under prevailing legal provisions.