Slain BJP leader’s brother alleges minister tried to goad him into a compromise
DHARWAD: The murder case of BJP leader Yogish Gouda Goudar has taken a new twist with a video clip surfacing.In the video, Yogish Gouda’s brother Gurunath Gouda is purpotedly seen charging that District Minister Vinay Kulkarni was involved in the murder and he (the minister) has been asking him to reach a compromise with the accused.
Gurunath Gouda told Express: “If the minister is not involved in the murder case, why is he interfering and asking us to compromise. One Nataraj, who is said to be maintaining the dairy of the minister, visited my house in October and asked me to go for a compromise. On October 23 and November 10 and 17, DySP Tulajappa Sulfi also visited my house and suggested the same,” he said.
“I sensed danger and based on the suggestion of our well-wishers, I recorded the conversations on the phone and CCTV cameras. Sensing threat, I have now released the clippings. I asked Sulfi, who came for a compromise as to why I should compromise. What deal do we have to make with the minister? If the minister has no role to play in this, why is he asking us for compromise?” said Gurunath Gouda.
“At the very moment, Sulfi contacted the minister over the phone. When I asked the minister why is he sending his men for a compromise, the minister asked me to compromise with Basavaraj Mutagi, who is one of the accused in the murder of Yogish Gouda. I replied to the minister that it is none of his business and to let the court decide his fate,” he said.
Gurunath Gouda said Sulfi also arranged for a meeting between him and the minister at the house of Mahesh Shetty, a hotelier, to discuss the issue. “I outrightly rejected the suggestion for a compromise with Mutagi,” he added.Yogesh Gouda’s wife Mallama said she had requested the district minster to hand over the case to CBI, but nothing that has been done. “Why is the minister hesitating to entrust the case to CBI for an investigation?” she asked
“I don’t have faith in the local court. I have requested the court to transfer the case to any other court,” she added.“The arrested might have murdered my husband. But the main question still remains unanswered. I want to know who motivated them to kill him. Let the court transfer the case to another court. The case should be investigated by the CBI. Only then the truth will come out,” she said.
Kulkarni denies allegations
Mines and Geology and Dharwad District Minister Vinay Kulkarni has lashed out at the BJP leaders for linking his name with the murder case of BJP leader Yogish Gouda Goudar. He flatly denied all the charges levelled by Yogish Gouda’s family members saying he has no role in the murder case.