Kittur, Belagavi: Congress MLA from Dharwad (Rural), Vinay Kulkarni, has announced that he will surrender before a Bengaluru court on Friday following the Supreme Court’s decision to cancel his bail in connection with the murder case of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogeeshgouda Goudar. Addressing media at Kittur in Belagavi district, Kulkarni asserted his faith in the judiciary and claimed the charges against him were a result of political vendetta.
Kulkarni had previously been granted bail on the condition that he would not enter Dharwad district. However, the CBI moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of his bail, alleging that he was influencing witnesses. The apex court accepted the plea and revoked his bail.
Despite being barred from entering his constituency, Kulkarni said he ensured the continuation of development projects in Dharwad. He met Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and other senior officials to request uninterrupted progress on ongoing initiatives.
He listed several projects: ₹32 crore for check-dam construction, ₹128 crore sanctioned for lift irrigation, ₹35 crore for underground drainage across eight municipal wards, and the establishment of 10 general and 8 BCM hostels. A new ₹400 crore district hospital is also planned on a 10-acre plot in Dharwad.
Kulkarni reiterated that he has always worked for justice and never wronged anyone. “Those who can’t tolerate my political rise are plotting against me,” he said. He called the allegations a “political conspiracy” and expressed confidence that truth would prevail.
Appealing to supporters, Kulkarni asked them to stand by his family during his absence. His wife Shivaleela Kulkarni and senior Congress leaders, including Aravind Eganagoudar and Eshwar Khandre, were present at the press conference.