DHARWAD: Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni returned to his home district Dharwad on Tuesday, nearly six years after he was barred from entering the district in connection with the Yogesh Gowda murder case.
Kulkarni, accompanied by his wife and children, arrived at his residence in Shivagiri Layout amid a convoy of vehicles carrying supporters. He was given a grand welcome, with supporters performing an aarti and breaking a pumpkin at the entrance of his house.
On his way to Dharwad, Kulkarni, along with his children Hemant and Vaishali, visited the Sri Veerabhadreshwara Temple at Harobelavadi and offered prayers. He later visited Sri Murugha Math and sought the seer’s blessings.
Kulkarni was named a key accused in the 2016 murder of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda. The CBI, which took over the investigation, arrested Kulkarni on November 5, 2020.
He spent around nine months at Hindalga jail in Belagavi before the Supreme Court granted him bail. However, as a condition of bail, the court barred him from entering Dharwad district to prevent him from influencing witnesses.
Kulkarni was recently permitted to enter the district following orders from the Bengaluru People’s Representatives Court and the 42nd JMFC court.
The court’s permission has now paved the way for the MLA’s return to his home district after nearly six years.
