Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting, at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru.
Published Mar 14, 2025 | 2:19 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 14, 2025 | 2:19 PM
BS Yediyurappa. (File picture)
Synopsis: The Karnataka High Court has stayed the order against former CM BS Yediyurappa in a POCSO case, exempting him from appearing in court until the next hearing. Yediyurappa is accused of molesting a 17-year-old girl, but he denies the charges, calling them part of a conspiracy. The court previously restrained the CID from arresting him.
The Karnataka High Court, on Friday, 14 February, has stayed the order taking cognizance and issuing summons against former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in a POCSO case.
The court also exempted him from appearing before the trial court until the next hearing, stating that the matter requires a detailed hearing. Yediyurappa will continue to benefit from the interim order until then. The special court had earlier directed their appearance on 15 March.
According to a Bar and Bench report, after hearing the arguments, the bench ordered, “The case pending in the special court against Yediyurappa and others under POCSO Act and IPC sections 354A, 204, 214 and 37 is stayed. All the petitioners are exempted from personal appearance in the trial court till further hearing,” and adjourned the hearing.
Senior Advocate CV Nagesh appeared for Yediyurappa. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty appeared for the State.
Livelaw reported that, Nagesh pointed out that the earlier cognizance order was quashed by the High Court on finding that there was no application of mind by the Special Court.
Raising doubts about the complaint, Nagesh submitted, “On 2-02-2024, the offence is said to have been committed at 11.30 am. They met the Commissioner of police on the same day. If something had happened on that morning, they would have opened their mouth before the CP.”
Nagesh submitted that the witnesses, who were said to be present at Yediyurappa’s residence on the date of the offence, have given statements that nothing has happened. He argued that the Special Court passed the order in a mechanical manner.
Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting, at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru.
The 54-year-old woman, who had levelled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital in May 2024, due to lung cancer.
After a special court in Bengaluru issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Karnataka CM in the POCSO case, the High Court on 14 June 2024, had restrained the CID from arresting him.
On 27 June 2024, the CID filed a charge sheet in the special court handling POCSO cases.
Yediyurappa has consistently denied the charges. He claimed that the mother and daughter had often visited his residence but were not entertained.
Yediyurappa added that on one occasion when the woman was in tears, he called her inside and helped her approach the police commissioner to resolve her grievances. He further suggested that the accusations were part of a conspiracy against him.
In response to earlier developments, the Karnataka High Court had issued orders restraining the CID from arresting Yediyurappa in the case.
Despite the non-bailable arrest warrant issued by the special court, the High Court’s order prevented his immediate arrest.
While issuing the order, the High Court questioned the need to arrest him. Justice S Krishna Dixit noted that Yediyurappa is the former CM of Karnataka and not some Tom, Dick or Harry. “He is not some Tom, Dick or Harry. He is a former Chief Minister of State. Is it your case he will flee the country? What can he do by leaving to Delhi from Bangalore,” asked the Justice.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
