Archive · 28 Jan 2026
Karnataka High Court Denies Bail to Congress MLA in Murder Case
A Congress MLA named Vinay Kulkarni, who is 56 years old, is in prison for a murder that happened in 2016.
He was first given bail in 2021, but the Supreme Court took it away in June 2025 because they thought he might have tried to influence witnesses.
The Karnataka High Court recently said no to his request for bail again, telling him to ask the Supreme Court instead.
The murder was of a BJP worker named Yogish Gouda, and 21 people are accused in the case.
The CBI says Kulkarni was the main person behind the murder.
Kulkarni's lawyers argue that he wasn't at the crime scene and shouldn't be treated differently from others who got bail.
Karnataka High Court rejected Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni's bail plea in a 2016 murder case.
Kulkarni's bail was initially granted in 2021 but was cancelled by the Supreme Court in June 2025 due to witness tampering allegations.
The court stated that Kulkarni should approach the Supreme Court again for bail as his case is different from regular bail cases.
Kulkarni is accused of being the main conspirator in the murder of BJP worker Yogish Gouda in Dharwad.
The CBI alleges that Kulkarni's close associate provided logistical support for the murder.
- Who
- Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni
- What
- Denial of bail in a 2016 murder case
- When
- June 2025
- Where
- Karnataka High Court
- Why
- Allegations of witness tampering and Supreme Court's cancellation of earlier bail
- Name
- Vinay Kulkarni
- Age
- 56
- Position
- Congress MLA and Chairman of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board
- Case
- Murder of BJP worker Yogish Gouda
- Year of Murder
- 2016
- Location of Murder
- Dharwad, North Karnataka
- Number of Accused
- 21
- Initial Bail Grant
- 2021
- Bail Cancellation
- June 6, 2025
- Reason for Bail Cancellation
- Alleged witness tampering
