The Karnataka High Court has reserved its verdict on former CM B.S. Yediyurappa’s plea to quash a POCSO case.
Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court on Saturday reserved its verdict on former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa’s plea seeking to quash the order taking cognizance and issuing summons in a POCSO Act case dated February 28, 2025. Justice M.I. Arun reserved the judgment after hearing arguments from both sides.
Yediyurappa has also sought to quash the FIR and chargesheet filed against him. Earlier, on February 7, the High Court had set aside the trial court’s first cognizance order, citing lack of judicial application of mind, while maintaining the investigation and final report. The Special Court later reissued the cognizance order on February 28, which was subsequently stayed by the High Court.
The case stems from a complaint filed by a woman alleging that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her 17-year-old daughter at his Bengaluru residence in February 2024. The Sadashivanagar Police initially registered the case, which was later transferred to the CID, resulting in a chargesheet.
Appearing for Yediyurappa, Senior Advocate C.V. Nagesh argued that the complaint was politically motivated and inconsistent, pointing out that the complainant and her daughter met senior police officials multiple times before filing the case but never raised any allegations. He further claimed that witnesses present at Yediyurappa’s residence denied any incident.
Opposing the plea, Special Public Prosecutor Professor Ravivarma Kumar asserted that the Special Court had duly applied its mind to the evidence and the victim’s statement before taking cognizance. The High Court’s final order is awaited.
