High Court Adjourns Hearing on Yediyurappa POCSO Case

The Karnataka High Court has deferred the hearing of former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's plea to dismiss a POCSO case against him to September 19. The interim order preventing his arrest remains in effect. Yediyurappa faces charges of sexually assaulting a minor, allegations he denies.

The Karnataka High Court on Monday adjourned to September 19 the hearing on a petition filed by former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa seeking quashing of a POCSO case against him.

The court also extended its interim order restraining the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting the veteran BJP leader.

The learned counsel (for respondent CID) Ashok Naik submits that the learned senior counsel Professor Ravivarma Kumar has been appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case in terms of an order of the state government dated 3-09-2024. The learned counsel submits that the senior counsel would be briefed if ten days' time is granted, and at the request of the counsel for the respondent, this matter is listed for September 19," Justice M Nagaprasanna said.

The interim order/protection shall continue till the next date of hearing. The CID on June 27 filed a chargesheet in the case at the Fast Track Court.

The CID alleges that Yediyurappa, accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl, and three others paid money to the alleged victim and her mother to buy their silence. Yediyurappa has been charged under several sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal Code.

The case was registered on March 14 based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting. Yediyurappa has denied the charges, vowing to fight the case legally.

(With inputs from agencies.)