New Delhi: Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the petition filed by former Minister Vinay Kulkarni to July 8, seeking quashing of FIR filed against him by the CBI in relation to the alleged murder of Hubballi-Dharwad ZP member Yogeshgouda. 

Mr. Kulakarni filed a petition in the Supreme Court last month seeking quashing of FIR, following Dharwad High Court bench has dismissed his petition. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, and Justice Aniruddha Bose headed bench adjourned the petition for further hearing.

The bench has issued notice to the state government and CBI. Court has agreed to club the petitions filed by Chandrashekhar Indi, uncle of Vinay Kulkarni, state government, and CBI along with the main petition.  Court has directed the registry to club both the petitions.

Earlier, Dharwad district additional and CBI Court, Dharwad High Court bench has dismissed the criminal petition of Vinay Kulkarni, seeking quashing of FIR. Even CBI court has rejected his bail plea and extended judicial custody. 

The Case

The CBI has filed supplementary charge-sheat against him and two other persons, Chandrashekhar Indi and Shivananda Birder, related to the alleged murder of ZP member of BJP, Yogeshgouda, in 2016. 

The CBI has stated that Kulkarni was involved in the conspiracy; further, CBI said that the former minister had personal enmity and political rivalry with Yogeshgouda, who refused to contest from ZP elections in 2016. 

Further, CBI alleged that Mr. Kulakarni has conspired with his close aids to murder Yogeshgouda. His associates have agreed to execute the murder. Police have seized the pistols from the accused. 

CBI arrested Vinay Kulkarni on November 5, 2020. In the supplementary charge sheet, CBI explained that Vinay Kulkarni's associate had arranged one more accused from Bengaluru. Then they have visited Dharwad on two occasions. Vinay Kulkarni has arranged a stay for the accused at Dandeli. During their second visit to Dharwad, they have allegedly murdered Yogeshgouda.