Hubballi: Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the murder of zilla panchayat member Yogeeshgouda Goudar on Sunday summoned and quizzed his wife Mallamma Goudar.
Former minister and senior Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni is among those who have been accused in the case. Mallamma was on Sunday subjected to interrogation at the City Armed Reserve (CAR) grounds in Hubballi.
Mallamma had levelled allegations of Kulkarni’s involvement in her husband’s murder, but later joined the Congress, against the wishes of her husband’s family.
Sources said that CBI was keen to unearth the reasons that prompted Mallamma to join the Congress. The sleuths also quizzed Nagaraj Gouri, who reportedly helped Mallamma join the Congress, on Sunday, a source said.
CBI officials also quizzed Kulkarni’s relative Chandrashekar Indi and Pundalik Morab, driver to the former minister’s personal assistant Nemagouda on Sunday. The CBI officials allowed Kulkarni’s family members to meet him at the CAR grounds.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Nagaraj Gouri, who was also quizzed by the CBI on Sunday,, dismissed rumours of his having given Mallamma money to join the Congress.
Nagaraj claimed that Mallamma had sought his help in joining the Congress. However, Kulkarni opposed the move, following which Mallamma reportedly met former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Dharwad zilla panchayat vice-president Shivanand Karigar.
“Since I was the party in-charge for the Hebballi ZP seat, I arranged a meeting between Mallamma and Kulkarni at my house, and I have intimated this to the CBI as well,” said Nagaraj.
“I do not know what Mallamma has told the investigating officers, but I did not give her any money to join the party.,” said Nagaraj.
He said that, while, he was able to get a glimpse of Kulkarni during the course of his interrogation on Sunday, he was unable to meet him.
Alleging that Vinay Kulkarni’s arrest was part of a conspiracy, Nagaraj charged Dharwad MP and Union minister for parliamentary affairs Pralhad Joshi’s involvement in the same. Nagaraj alleged that the plan was to keep an influential leader of the Lingayat community out of the political scene.