SC Rejects Latest Appeal in BJP Worker Yogesh Gaudar Murder Case

The Supreme Court has dismissed the latest appeal in BJP worker Yogesh Gaudar murder case. The petition challenged the lower court’s order to frame charges against Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni in the BJP worker’s killing case.

It is clear from this decision of the Supreme Court that Kulkarni will now be trial. Kulkarni’s filing of a petition in the Supreme Court led to the dismissal of his application in the Karnataka High Court.

While dismissing the petition, the Karnataka High Court had said that Vinay Kulkarni was a minister in 2016. After a dispute in a panchayat meeting held in April 2016, he conspired with his close ones and other accused to murder BJP worker Yogesh Gaudar.

Commenting on the long hearing, the court maintained that Kulkarni and the other accused had approached the courts several times since the incident. The High Court also observed that a long-running criminal case would be against the interest of the criminal justice administration.

We should hear every case, especially one like this, on a war footing. Notably, Yogesh Gaudar, an elected member of Dharwad District Panchayat, was murdered in his gym in June 2016. Karnataka government investigated the case initially that led to the arrest of 6 people.

In 2019, CBI took over the case as the BJP came to power in the state. CBI detained Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni in 2020, subsequently.

The trial court framed charges against Vinay Kulkarni in December 2023, followed by a charge sheet by police. Kulkarni first approached the High Court against the order. Later Congress MLA reached to the apex court as he could not receive relief. However, apex court also denied the relief to him.

Kulkarni, in the petition, maintained that there was no material on record to link him to the murder. Therefore, he could’nt be charged. However, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, argued that the case against Kulkarni was based on circumstantial evidence and statements given by several witnesses.

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