Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim relief to former Karnataka minister and Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda from Dharwad, by suspending the execution of his conviction and sentence and releasing him on bail pending appeal.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Basavaraj and Justice Mohammed Nawaz granted bail to Kulkarni and 10 other convicts, including Channakeshava Tingarikar.
The High Court directed the accused to execute a personal bond of ₹5 lakh along with two sureties for the like amount. It also barred them from leaving the country without prior permission of the court.
The Bench, however, rejected a plea seeking to restrain Kulkarni from entering Dharwad district during the pendency of the appeal.
In April this year, a special court in Bengaluru had sentenced 17 accused, including Kulkarni, to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of Yogesh Gowda, a BJP Zilla Panchayat member who was killed in Dharwad in June 2016. Following his conviction, Kulkarni had been disqualified as an MLA.
With the High Court staying the operation of the conviction and sentence, Kulkarni has secured interim legal relief until the disposal of his appeal.
