Karnataka DGP hands over POCSO case against former CM BS Yediyurappa to CID

The case stems from a woman's complaint before Sadashivanagar Police in Bengaluru alleging that Yediyurappa molested her minor daughter.

ByMahesh M Goudar

Published Mar 15, 2024 | 5:13 PMUpdatedMar 15, 2024 | 5:13 PM

Karnataka DGP hands over POCSO case against former CM BS Yediyurappa to CID

Within 24 hours after a sexual assault case was registered against BJP leader former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, Karnataka DGP Alok Mohan issued an order on Friday, 15 March, to transfer the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) immediately.

The FIR against the BJP parliamentary board member is registered under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The case stems from a woman’s complaint before Sadashivanagar Police in Bengaluru alleging that Yediyurappa molested her minor daughter on 2 February, 2024.

The complainant protested outside the Sadashivanagar police station for hours on Thursday, demanding an FIR be filed. After nearly five hours of reluctance, the police filed the FIR against 81-year-old Yediyurappa.

Senior-most Lingayat leader of the BJP in Karnataka, Yediyurappa has been booked under sections 8 of the POCSO Act and 354 (A) of the IPC.

The minor is already a rape survivor.

Also Read: BS Yediyurappa booked under POCSO

Home minister confirms case

Confirming that a case has been registered against Yediyurappa, Home Minister G Parameshwara said the woman approached the Sadashivnagar police around 10 pm on Thursday with a complaint saying her daughter was molested.

“The investigation is now on. Until and unless we know the truth, we cannot reveal anything,” he told reporters on Friday.

“This is a sensitive thing because it involves a former chief minister of our state,” he added.

Responding to a specific query, Parameshwara ruled out any political angle in the case. “We don’t know the lady and we don’t know anything about it (the alleged incident). She went to the police station herself and the police registered a case.

He added that the police did not refuse to register the case and the investigation was on.

The home minister further said the police would summon Yediyurappa only if necessary after the preliminary probe.

BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra is the president of the Karnataka BJP state unit. His other son, BY Raghavendra, is the sitting MP of Shimoga and the BJP’s candidate from the same constituency for Lok Sabha polls.

Also Read: Karnataka seer arrested for ‘raping’ minor

BS Yediyurappa denies allegations

Responding to the police case, Yediyurappa said the mother and daughter used to visit him till one-and-a-half months ago.

“The mother and daughter often used to come here but we did not entertain them,” he told reporters on Friday.

“Once when she was in tears, we called her inside and asked about her problems. She complained of injustice and other things. I telephoned the police commissioner (Bengaluru City) and asked him to look into their complaint. I sent them to the commissioner’s office. Thereafter, she started to create a nuisance,” the former chief minister said.

Yediyurappa said she did not seem to be in good health and he felt there was no use in talking to her.

“Now, I am told that an FIR has been registered. We will face the law. This is an example of what you get in return for trying to help someone in need. When she said that she was in difficulty, I gave her money also,” he added.

Yediyurappa said he did not want to unnecessarily state that the FIR was a result of a political conspiracy.

Before Yediyurappa responded to the allegations, his team had already vehemently denied them.

“The complainant has a shady track record. She has filed cases against several people, including her husband, police officers investigating the rape case of her daughter, and leaders of Opposition parties as well,” said an aide of Yediyurappa.

The BJP leader’s team released a set of documents listing the cases the complainant had filed. The list showed 53 cases filed by the complainant over the years against several persons including police officers, accusing them of dereliction of duty in probing the rape case.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)