New Delhi: Supreme Court has granted conditional bail to former minister and Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni, who is accused in the Hubballi-Dhwarad ZP member Yogeshgouda murder case. 

CBI police arrested Kulkarni in November 5, 2020, following his involvement in the murder of Yogishgouda, a ZP member of BJP. After producing him before the jurisdictional court, CBI has taken him for custody for interrogation. Kulkarni is lodged in Hindalga jail. 

Though the court granted bail to him, his immediate release is unlikely as cases are pending against him in the Special in Bengaluru. Recently, the special court has rejected his bail plea. Kulkarni has approached High Court challenging special court orders.

Additional Solicitor general K.M. Nataraj submitted to the court that bail cannot be granted to the accused since the case is pending against him before the Special Court in Bengaluru. Supreme Court has directed the special court to complete the hearing of the cases against the accused within two months. 

Court has also imposed the condition that the accused should not enter to Dharwad district and not tamper any evidences related to the case. 

Read: SC adjourns the petition of Kulkarni

On June 15, 2016, Yogishgouda, a ZP member of Saptapura of Dharwad, was murdered. He was brutally murdered by the accused in front of Uday Gym. Initially, police have said that it was murder for gain related to property issues. However, later case was transferred to CBI following the request of Yogishgouda's brother Gurunath gouda and family members.