The Karnataka High Court on Thursday refused to quash the POCSO case registered against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, clearing the way for the trial to continue before the Special Court.
Justice M.I. Arun upheld the Special Court’s February 28 order taking cognizance of the alleged offence and issuing summons to the senior BJP leader. At the same time, the court granted him relief on personal appearance, directing that he need not be compelled to attend proceedings unless absolutely necessary. Any plea for exemption, the judge said, should ordinarily be allowed unless the trial court considers his presence essential.
The High Court also clarified that Yediyurappa is free to file a discharge application before the trial court.
This is the second cognizance order in the case. On February 7, the High Court had set aside the Special Court’s first cognizance order, holding that the trial judge had not applied his mind properly. However, it upheld the investigation and the final report filed by the CID.
Following that ruling, the Special Court again took cognizance on February 28. This fresh order was later stayed, leading to the present challenge.
The complaint was filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, alleging that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting at his Bengaluru residence in February 2024.
The Sadashivanagar police registered an FIR on March 14, 2024, and the case was later transferred to the CID, which re-registered the FIR and eventually filed a chargesheet against the former CM.
Senior Advocate C.V. Nagesh, appearing for Yediyurappa, argued that the case was politically motivated and lacked credibility.
He submitted that the complainant and the minor had met the Bengaluru Police Commissioner multiple times in February 2024 but raised no such allegation until mid-March. Witnesses who were present during the meeting, he said, had stated that nothing inappropriate occurred.
Nagesh contended that the Special Court had issued the cognizance order “mechanically” without evaluating the material on record and urged the High Court to quash the proceedings.
Special Public Prosecutor Prof. Ravivarma Kumar opposed the plea, maintaining that the Special Court had applied its judicial mind after considering the victim’s statement and other evidence.
He argued that the February 28 order was reasoned and legally sound.
Rejecting the challenge, the High Court held that the proceedings should not be quashed at this stage. The trial will continue before the Special POCSO Court, with Yediyurappa free to seek discharge in accordance with law.
