Daijiworld Media Network – Belagavi (MS)

Belagavi, Aug 22: Former minister and Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni, who was imprisoned on the accusation of involvement in the murder of Yogish Gowda, was released on bail after nine months from the Hindalaga prison of the district on Saturday, August 21.

As soon as he stepped out of prison, thousands of followers cheered him and vied with one another to put garlands and offer sweets to Kulkarni, flouting the Covid-19 guidelines.

Supporters and well wishers of Vinay had gathered in large numbers outside the prison, violating Covid norms. They shouted slogans in appreciation of Vinay as well as burst fire crackers. He was offered a garland of apples.

MLA of Belagavi rural Laxmi Hebbalkar applied vermillion on Vinay's forehead and also tied him Rakhi. Women welcomed him with 'arathi'. Vinay’s supporters hoisted him on their shoulders and held a procession in an open car from Hindalaga village to Rani Channamma circle.

"Vinay Kulkarni is like my elder brother. I am here as his sister. We share a special bond. I will support him to come out of this problem," Hebbalkar said.

Kulkarni said he had been granted bail by the Supreme Court. "I was confident of coming out as innocent. I have faith in the judiciary. I also have the blessings of religious seers and people of the constituency. I am a different politician. Rich and poor are with me. People have supported me and my family throughout and I am grateful to them."

The celebration created traffic jam on Belagavi-Hindalaga road. After the procession, Kulkarni left for Bengaluru. As per the Supreme Court bail order, he is prohibited from entering Dharwad district till the bail period.

As many as 3,000 people gathered breaking all restrictions of weekend curfew in Belagavi. The temple was specially opened for him to perform puja.

Taking cognisance of the large crowd that had gathered despite weekend curfew, Belagavi rural police have filed a suo moto case against Vinay Kulkarni and 300 others for violating Covid guidelines after his release from prison. They also charged him and others with violating the weekend curfew.

However, Kulkarni defended the rally and said that 'innocent voters' had accorded him a grand welcome out of happiness. He also criticised the state government for booking Covid violation cases against him. "The government had no moral right to book me for violations when it has been openly supporting the BJP’s Janashirvad rallies. "My supporters are not politicians. They are just innocent voters," he said.

Kulkarni was accused of conspiring in the murder of BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda in 2016.

He was a cabinet minister in the Siddaramaiah led Congress government. Though his name came up, no action was initiated against him.

The BJP made it an issue and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa vowed at election rallies that he would send Vinay Kulkarni to jail if the BJP was voted to power.

Later, the case was handed over to the CBI and Kulkarni was arrested. He spent more than 9 months in jail and finally obtained bail from the Supreme Court and the People Representatives Special Court in Bengaluru.