The Supreme Court turned down Vinay Kulkarni’s plea for more time to surrender in the 2016 murder case of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda. His bail was earlier revoked over claims of influencing witnesses.
New Delhi: Today, on June 13, the Supreme Court has cancelled the bail of Karnataka Congress MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni in connection with the 2016 murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda. The court also refused to grant him an extension of time to surrender.
Vinay Kulkarni had earlier requested the top court to give him seven more days to surrender before the trial court or jail authorities.
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However, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan rejected his plea, sticking to its earlier order dated June 6, which had directed him to surrender within one week.
On June 6, the Supreme Court had accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s request to cancel the bail granted to Kulkarni, based on serious allegations of witness tampering.
The court observed that the accused had tried to reach out to witnesses indirectly and influence them.
The top court remarked:
“There is sufficient material on record to suggest that attempts were made by Kulkarni to either contact witnesses or alternatively, influence such witnesses.”
This observation was made by a bench led by Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Satish Chandra.
The court, while taking this decision, noted that Kulkarni is currently the Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board.
It further stated that there were allegations that he tried to influence witnesses through mutual friends or known persons so that they would speak in his favour and weaken the case against him.
Though the court cancelled the bail, it chose not to make extensive comments on the witness tampering issue.
The bench clarified:
“Keeping in mind the totality of circumstances, the bail granted to Kulkarni should be cancelled. However, it consciously refrains from making detailed observations in respect of the allegation of witness-tampering.”
The court further directed the trial court to complete the case proceedings as soon as possible. However, it clarified that the trial court should not be influenced by anything said in the bail cancellation order.
The order stated:
“The trial court shall make an endeavour to conclude the trial expeditiously, without being influenced by any of its observations contained in the order cancelling the bail of Kulkarni.”
Before this, the trial court had refused to entertain the CBI’s request for bail cancellation, arguing that it did not have the power to cancel the bail since it was granted by the Supreme Court.
However, the apex court disagreed with this view. It referred to the precedent set in the case of Gurcharan Singh vs. State (Delhi Administration) and clarified that even if bail is granted by the Supreme Court, the lower court can still consider a request to cancel it if bail conditions are violated.
The court said:
“The trial court’s view was not in consonance with its decision in Gurcharan Singh vs. State (Delhi Admn.) case, and the court below could have entertained an application seeking cancellation of bail on the grounds of violation of bail conditions notwithstanding the fact that bail was granted by the Supreme Court.”
Vinay Kulkarni was arrested in November 2020 by the CBI in connection with the murder of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda.
Gowda was murdered in June 2016 while he was at his gym in Dharwad district. Initially, the case was being investigated by the state police, but it was transferred to the CBI in September 2019.
At the time of Gowda’s murder, Kulkarni was a Cabinet Minister in the Congress-led government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Though his name had surfaced during the investigation, there was no immediate action taken against him.
The BJP made this a political issue during election campaigns, with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa publicly stating that Kulkarni would be jailed if the BJP came to power.
Eventually, the investigation was handed over to the CBI, and Kulkarni was arrested. He remained in jail for more than nine months before getting bail from the Supreme Court in 2021.
Recently, the Karnataka government approached the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of his bail, stating that he had violated bail conditions by trying to influence witnesses in the case.
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The CBI had already filed charge sheets against several accused in the case and argued that the ongoing interference by Kulkarni could damage the trial. In response, the Supreme Court, after examining the material and arguments, ordered the cancellation of bail and directed Kulkarni to surrender without delay.
Despite his plea for an extension, the top court firmly ruled:
“Refused to grant seven more days to Kulkarni, who was ordered on June 6 to surrender before the concerned trial court or jail authority within a period of one week.”
CASE TITLE:
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA through the CBI vs VINAY RAJASHEKHARAPPA KULKARNI SLP(Crl) No. 7865/2025
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