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A Supreme Court bench of Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha yesterday dismissed the plea by former Congress Minister from Karnataka, Vinay Kulkarni challenging the Karnataka Government ordering CBI investigation in a 2016 case where he is an accused.

A BJP worker and Zilla Panchayat member called Yogesh Gowda was murdered in 2016 while he was in the gym. Kulkarni was among those who are accused of the murder. The Karnataka government had in 2019 sanctioned further investigation by CBI through a GO, Kulkarni and other challenged the GO before the Karnataka High Court. However a division bench of the court had in October 2021 dismissed his plea. He subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the order of the division bench.

Mukul Rohatgi, Senior Advocate, appearing for Kulkarni submitted that GO issued by the State of Karnataka and submitted could not direct for further investigation. A slew of senior advocates like Kapil Sibal, Devdatt Kamat and Chandra Sekar appeared for the petitioners.

However on hearing the lawyers, the court held that “Heard Mr.Sibal, Rohatgi, Chandra Shekar and Kamat in support of the petitioner. We see no reason to interfere, these SLPs are dismissed.”

Kulkarni who was arrested in this case was granted bail by the Supreme Court in August 2021 under the condition that he would not visit Dharwad (where the crime was committed) he was directed to visit the CBI office everyday during the bail period.

Case title : Somashekar Vs State of Karnataka & Ors