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Karnataka BJP leader murder: CBI to grill ex-Cong Minister’s aide

BJP leader Yogesh Gowda was killed by unidentified men on June 15, 2016, outside his gym in Dharwad. Allegations soon surfaced against Vinay Kulkarni, who was the cabinet minister in the Congress government headed by present opposition leader Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka BJP leader murder: CBI to grill ex-Cong Minister’s aide

Photo: IANS

The CBI will grill former Congress Minister Vinay Rajashekharappa Kulkarni’s personal secretary and Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) officer, Siddu Nyama Gouda, in connection with the murder of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda on Friday.

The special Central Bureau Investigation team picked up the accused on Thursday from Gadag in Karnataka.

Sources said that the main accused in the case, Basavaraja Muttagi, will be summoned and questioned. Crucial information is expected to be revealed on the aspect of financing the Gowda execution.

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The accused allegedly took care of all financial transactions of Kulkarni. The accused, Siddu Nyama Gouda, will be grilled throughout the day, they added. Siddu Nyama Gouda presently works as secretary of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee in the Gadag district.

BJP leader Yogesh Gowda was killed by unidentified men on June 15, 2016, outside his gym in Dharwad. Allegations soon surfaced against Vinay Kulkarni, who was the cabinet minister in the Congress government headed by present opposition leader Siddaramaiah.

Kulkarni was groomed by Siddaramaiah to muster the support of the powerful Lingayath community in the north Karnataka region. Yogesh Gowda, a BJP Zilla Panchayath member, is said to have been challenging Kulkarni on his own turf.

BJP state unit made it an issue in the elections and Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had vowed during his public rallies that Vinay Kulkarni would be sent to jail. Kulkarni was arrested on November 5, 2020, by the CBI.

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