Workshops nurture artistic taste: Prakash Raj
Inauguration of ‘Beyond the Score - Rhythm’ workshop at St. Aloysius University
Mangaluru: Renowned film and theatre artist Prakash Raj opined that workshops conducted in colleges play a significant role in nurturing an interest in the arts.
He was speaking after inaugurating the four-day workshop, ‘Beyond the Score - Rhythm,’ by playing the drums at the St. Aloysius Deemed University campus on Thursday.
"During my college days, our Kannada lecturers encouraged us to critique poetry along with learning the syllabus. This helped me cultivate an interest in literature. It is heartening to see such workshops happening at Aloysius College, celebrated like a festival. It is essential to develop an interest, faith, and understanding of the arts at a young age," he remarked.
Last year, the university organised a cultural festival under the banner of ‘Nirdiganta.’ A similar event is scheduled for February this year. Prakash Raj extended his best wishes for the success of the workshop and encouraged everyone to celebrate art.
Speaking as the chief guest, St. Aloysius Deemed University Vice-Chancellor Rev. Dr. Praveen Martis said, “Life becomes more fulfilling when we listen to the rhythm of our hearts.”
Introducing the event, Anush Shetty mentioned that the four-day workshop would focus on teaching participants to play various musical instruments, guided by resource persons.
Prominent personalities such as Christopher D’Souza, resource persons Shrikant Swamy, Munna Mysuru, and Krishna Chaitanya, were present during the event. The programme was hosted by Sweedal D’Souza.
The ‘Rhythm’ workshop is jointly organised by the St. Aloysius Deemed University’s Theatre Studies Centre and ‘Nirdiganta,’ led by actor Prakash Raj, and will run from today until January 5.
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Karnataka MLA Vinay Kulkarni disqualified after conviction in Goudar murder case
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Saturday issued an official notification regarding the disqualification of Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni following his conviction in the murder case of BJP leader Yogeshgouda Goudar.
The former minister is currently in prison, serving life imprisonment in the case.
“Consequent upon the conviction of Vinay Kulkarni, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Dharwad constituency, by the LXXXI Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru City (CCH-82), in Spl CC No. 565/2021, he stands disqualified from the membership of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the date of conviction, i.e, April 15, 2026,” the notification read.
“He stands disqualified in terms of the provisions of Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution of India, read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and such disqualification shall continue for a further period of six years after his release, unless the conviction is stayed by a competent court,” it added.
Hence, one seat in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has fallen vacant, the notification said.
Bypolls were held on April 9 to fill two other seats in the 224-member Assembly that fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLAs. The results will be declared on May 4.
On April 15, Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat convicted Kulkarni and others under various IPC sections, including criminal conspiracy and murder. Subsequently, on April 17, the court sentenced Kulkarni and 15 others convicted in the case to life imprisonment.
The case pertains to the killing of Goudar, a BJP Zilla Panchayat member, in Dharwad on June 15, 2016. Kulkarni was a minister at that time. Hired assailants attacked and hacked Goudar to death in his gym at Saptapur in Dharwad.
Following demands from Goudar’s family and others, the then-BJP government transferred the case to the CBI in 2019.
The CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet in 2020, naming Vinay Kulkarni as the “main conspirator.” It alleged that he perceived Yogeshgouda Goudar as a growing political rival in Dharwad and hired contract killers to eliminate him.
Kulkarni was arrested by the CBI in 2020. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in August 2021 under certain conditions, including a ban on entering Dharwad district. However, in June 2025, the apex court cancelled his bail following allegations of witness tampering and attempts to influence prosecution witnesses.
Kulkarni again sought bail in January 2026, but the High Court rejected it, citing judicial propriety.
However, the Supreme Court granted him bail on February 27 after noting that all witnesses had been examined.
