Former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa Summoned by Bengaluru Court Over POCSO Charges

A special Bengaluru Court on Thursday summoned veteran BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to appear before it on July 15 in connection with a case filed against him for alleged sexual harassment of a minor under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court summoned him after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Karnataka Police filed a charge sheet against the former Chief Minister on June 27. The charge sheet filed by CID alleges that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl at his residence on February 2, 2024 when she and her mother visited him seeking help in a previous case of sexual assault against the minor girl.

The charge sheet also states that the BJP leader called the 17 year old girl inside a meeting room and locked the door. Yediyurappa then asked the victim whether she remembered the face of the person who had sexually assaulted her earlier to which the victim replied twice stating that she did. After this, the former Karnataka CM asked her what her age was then and at this point he allegedly tried to sexually assault her. The victim reportedly pushed his hand and moved away, asking him to open the door. The BJP leader opened the door and exited after reportedly stuffing some cash in the hands of the girl from his pocket. It has also been alleged that Yediyurappa and three of his aides attempted to cover up the case by paying money to the victim and her mother in an attempt buy their silence.

The case was registered against the former CM on March 14 based on a complaint by the mother of the teenager. Following which the veteran BJP leader was questioned for over three hours by the CID on June 17. Yediyurappa has been charged under Section 8 of the POCSO Act, 2012, Sections 354A (sexual harassment) and 214 (bribery to conceal offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Karnataka high court extended its interim order on June 28 restraining the CID from arresting the BJP leader, after allowing the prosecution to file objections to the petition filed by the former Karnataka CM seeking to quash the FIR against him.