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Bengaluru, Nov 13 (IANS) The Karnataka High Court on Thursday refused to quash the summons issued by a fast track court to former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. Yediyurappa has been described as the main accused.
A single-judge bench led by Justice MI Arun rejected the plea to quash the trial court’s cognizance order and directed Yediyurappa to appear for hearing after taking the charge sheet on record.
However, the bench asked the trial court to exempt the former CM from personal appearance whenever his presence is not required, and said Yediyurappa can file a separate petition for that relief.
The fast track court had issued summons to Yediyurappa and three others on February 28, 2025. Yediyurappa had sought quashing of the cognizance order, FIR and charge sheet, arguing that there was no proper application of mind in the earlier order by the trial court, which was itself quashed by the high court.
Senior advocate CV Nagesh, appearing for Yediyurappa, also pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline of the complaint, noting that the alleged incidents on February 2 and 5, 2024, were not reported at that time and the complaint was filed only on March 14, 2024, amid the political turmoil. He said that the witnesses present at the time had denied that anything untoward had happened.
Opposing the petition, senior public prosecutor Prof. Ravivarma Kumar told the court that the trial court had taken cognizance after applying its mind to the available evidence.
According to the chargesheet, Yediyurappa – along with three others – is facing charges under the POCSO Act and sections of the IPC, including 354(A) (sexual harassment), 204 (destruction of any document or electronic record), and 214 (offering bribe to conceal an offence).
The prosecution alleges that the complainant had gone to Yediyurappa’s residence seeking help in the case of alleged sexual assault on her 17-year-old daughter. The chargesheet claims that Yediyurappa held the girl’s wrist and molested her; It said the girl protested and ran away.
The charge sheet further alleges that, after the victim uploaded a photo and video on social media, the accused called the complainant back, gave him Rs 2 lakh in cash, and deleted the photos and video from the social media and iPhone gallery. The victim’s mother later died on May 26, 2024 in Bengaluru.
Yediyurappa has denied the allegations. He said he had offered help to a distressed mother and daughter near his residence, had roped in the Bengaluru Police for assistance and given them money after hearing of their plight. He had said, “If we come forward to help, these are the consequences we have to face. I will face everything.”
–IANS
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