The Karnataka High Court on Friday deferred the hearing of the POCSO case involving former Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yediyurappa to September 5. The adjournment was announced by Justice M Nagaprasanna during the proceedings.
The court had previously granted Yediyurappa interim relief from arrest, a measure that allowed him to participate in the ongoing legal process. This temporary reprieve came amidst allegations that surfaced earlier this year involving the senior BJP leader.
In February, a complaint was lodged by a woman alleging that Yediyurappa molested her 17-year-old daughter during a meeting at his residence in Dollars Colony. Following the complaint, Yediyurappa was booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Despite Yediyurappa’s denials of any wrongdoing, the case escalated when the victim’s brother petitioned the court last week, highlighting the lack of progress in the investigation. He urged the court to order the immediate arrest and interrogation of Yediyurappa to ensure a thorough investigation.
Reacting to the initial police handling of the case, Karnataka’s Director General of Police Alok Mohan ordered its transfer to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in March for enhanced scrutiny.
Adding a poignant twist to the case, the woman who accused Yediyurappa passed away last month due to lung cancer, intensifying the scrutiny around the case’s proceedings.
In April, as part of the ongoing investigation, the CID took a significant step by collecting Yediyurappa’s voice sample, following a summon to their office.
