Karnataka: Rape charge a big challenge for aspiring minister Vinay Kulkarni

An FIR has been registered against Karnataka’s Dharwad Congress MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni in Bengaluru following a complaint filed by a woman that he raped and harassed her.

Kulkarni is an aspirant for a ministerial position in the potential reshuffle of the Siddaramaiah Cabinet.

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According to the complaint, the police have named Kulkarni as the main accused and his aide Arjun as the secondary accused.

The woman’s charge

Kulkarni filed a counter-complaint, alleging that the woman and the head of a Kannada news channel were trying to blackmail and extort Rs 2 crore from him. The police filed a second FIR. The woman (34), who identifies herself as a social worker and a leader of farmers, claimed that she met Kulkarni in early 2022 at his Bengaluru residence after being introduced by a mutual acquaintance.

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She alleged that Kulkarni made inappropriate sexual advances over video calls. When she rejected him, he sent men to threaten her, forcing her to continue communicating with him.

Harassment by MLA

The woman alleged that Kulkarni took her phone number from a farmer and began calling her, even at night.

“A few months later, he insisted that I make video calls while I was undressed and pressured me to visit his house in Hebbal. When I refused, a gang of rowdies threatened me, saying I would face consequences if I didn't go to the MLA's house.

“In April, the MLA called me to Belgaum where he tried to hug me and sexually harass me. However, I managed to escape when some people came to meet the MLA.”

Woman alleges rape

According to her, on August 24, when she came to Bengaluru to meet former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Kulkarni told her to come to his house and then drove her to an isolated area near the airport and raped her in his car.

“Later, he took away my phone and instructed a party member to take photos and videos. Later, he returned my phone,” she said. “After this, an audio recording of a conversation between me and the MLA went viral. Kulkarni suspected that I had leaked the audio. He did not believe my denials.

“The MLA took me to an isolated area and assaulted me. On October 2, the MLA took me to Dharmasthala where he raped me again… He told Arjun to take me to Bengaluru,” the FIR details. Kulkarni has in turn accused the woman and Rakesh Shetty, the managing director of a private TV Channel, of attempting to extort Rs 2 crore from him.

His complaint was prompted by the channel airing the woman's allegations, along with visual evidence that allegedly shows Kulkarni on a video call with her.

Kulkarni eyes minister’s post

Kulkarni, a prominent Panchamasali Lingayat leader from North Karnataka, has been itching to get into the Karnataka ministry, claiming his seniority would be taken into account. “There are good opinions about me within the party,” he said. “Even without my asking, positions like KPCC working president and heads of corporations and boards have been given to me. Therefore, I believe I will receive a ministerial position.”

Kulkarni is also facing trial in a case dating back to 2016.

On June 15 that year, Yogesh Gouda, a local BJP leader, was murdered in Dharwad area. Kulkarni, one of the accused, has moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the charges against him.