The Karnataka High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition filed by former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, seeking to quash a case registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The decision was reserved by Justice M Nagaprasanna following comprehensive arguments presented by both sides.
The case revolves around allegations that on February 2, 2024, Yediyurappa sexually harassed a 17-year-old girl when she and her mother visited his residence seeking assistance for another matter also under the POCSO Act. Tragically, the girl’s mother, who was the complainant in the case, passed away due to cancer on May 26, 2024.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate C V Nagesh, representing Yediyurappa, contended that the allegations were baseless. He detailed that the victim and her mother had visited Yediyurappa seeking help and had subsequently met the Bengaluru Police Commissioner on Yediyurappa’s advice. Nagesh emphasized that no allegations were made against Yediyurappa during those interactions with the police commissioner.
Further, Nagesh highlighted the delay in filing the complaint, which occurred one-and-a-half months after the alleged incidents, suggesting that this factor, along with the history of the complainant filing 56 complaints against various persons and authorities, should be taken into account.
The defense also touched upon the legal nuances of the POCSO Act, particularly pointing out that the reverse burden of proof on the accused to demonstrate innocence is not absolute.
On the other side, Prof Ravivarma Kumar, representing the prosecution, and S Balan, representing the victim’s brother, argued for the seriousness of the allegations and the need to uphold the provisions of the POCSO Act to protect children from sexual offences.
