Dharwad: Former minister and senior Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni was on Friday remanded in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the second additional district court in Dharwad. The judge, who had on Thursday ordered a one-day judicial custody for the former minister on trial in the Yogeeshgouda Goudar murder case, continued the hearing on Friday. Kulkarni was subsequently taken to Hindalga Jail in Belagavi.
The CBI’s counsel sought Kulkarni’s custody for three days, citing the need to extract key information about the case from the former minister. On the other hand, Kulkarni’s lawyer pointed out that his client had been cooperating with the CBI, by appearing promptly for questioning on Thursday, and questioned the need for him to be remanded in custody.
Judge Panchakshari M on Friday directed the team of CBI officials investigating the case to produce Kulkarni before the court on Monday.
Former minister Vinay Kulkarni, in a Facebook post, said that he had seen many upheavals on both his personal and political fronts, adding that he would not allow the current crisis to depress him. “I firmly believe that truth will emerge triumphant in the end, and this drama orchestrated by my political enemies will end soon,” he wrote on Facebook.
Kulkarni’s brother, relative and PA quizzed
Vinay Kulkarni’s brother Vijay Kulkarni, meanwhile, was subjected to quizzing by CBI sleuths for the second consecutive day on Friday. Vijay, along with relative Chandrashekar Indi from Vijayapura district and former minister’s personal assistant Somshekar Nemagouda, was quizzed by CBI sleuths for more than 10 hours at the Dharwad suburban police station.
Seer calls on former minister’s family
Seer of Kudalasangama Basava Peetha Jayamrutyunjaya Swamiji, meanwhile, called on the members of Vinay Kulkarni’s household in the time of crisis, and offered his sympathy. “I have come to support the former minister’s family during such a hard time. The law will take its own course, and the truth will prevail,” the seer told mediapersons.