Karnataka HC provides relief to former CM BS Yediyurappa in POCSO case, stays summons issued by lower court

The Karnataka High Court Friday provided relief to former Karnataka Chief Minister and and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa as it stayed the summons issued by the lower court. He was was scheduled to appear before the Court on March 15 in connection with a POCSO case.

The sessions court, which handles cases booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, took fresh cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against Yediyurappa on February 28.

The Karnataka High Court on February 7 had directed the special court to consider afresh and pass appropriate orders on the CID's final report in the case.


The case was registered on March 14, 2024, based on a complaint lodged by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting on February 2, at his residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru.

The CID on June 27 filed a charge-sheet in the Fast Track Court which had alleged that Yediyurappa and three other accused paid money to the complainant and her minor daughter "to buy their silence".

The charge sheet invoked section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) of POCSO Act, sections 354A (sexual harassment), 204 (destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence) and 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender) of the Indian Penal Code.

The other three accused, Arun Y M, Rudresh M and G Mariswamy, who are aides of Yediyurappa, are charged under sections 204 and 214 of IPC.

The 54-year-old complainant died at a private hospital here in May last year, due to lung cancer.

(With agency inputs)