Karnataka HC seeks CBI response on Congress MLA’s plea against life-term for murder of BJP leader

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation on a plea filed by Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni challenging his conviction and life sentence in the 2016 murder of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yogeshgouda Goudar, Live Law reported.

A division bench of Justices Venkatesh Naik and Mohammed Nawaz was hearing Kulkarni’s petition against the trial court’s April 15 verdict. The High Court issued notice to the CBI and directed its registry to call for the trial court records.

Goudar was killed in June 2016. The case had been investigated by the CBI.

The central agency had filed a chargesheet for murder, criminal conspiracy, public servant disobeying the law to shield a person accused in a matter, destruction of evidence, rioting and illegal possession of weapons.

On April 15, the trial court convicted Kulkarni along with 15 others. Two days later, it sentenced the Dharwad MLA to life imprisonment.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Kulkarni’s counsel requested an early listing of the matter on Wednesday. The CBI, however, sought time to file its objections, noting that the trial court judgement runs is 680-pages long.

The court said that the CBI can seek the time they require for filing response before the vacation bench when the matter is...

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