Karnataka HC Restrains CID from Arresting Ex-CM Yediyurappa In POCSO Case, Orders Him To Appear Before Dept On June 17
The decision comes a day after a Bengaluru court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa concerning allegations under the POCSO Act, filed on March 14, 2024.
The Karnataka High Court has restrained the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case registered against him. The court has also directed the leader to appear before the CID for questioning on June 17.
The decision comes a day after a Bengaluru court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa concerning allegations under the POCSO Act, filed on March 14, 2024. Senior counsel C.V. Nagesh, representing Yediyurappa, argued that the case was initiated in March and that Yediyurappa had cooperated with the investigation after the first notice. He had requested additional time following the issuance of a second notice, according to a report on IANS.
Nagesh contended that the arrest warrant was issued as an "act of vendetta" against the former Chief Minister. The High Court emphasised that the investigation should proceed without the intention of making an arrest.
The CID's Special Investigation Team had sought an arrest warrant from the First Fast Track Court after Yediyurappa failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday. Reports suggest that Yediyurappa had requested more time to join the probe and has since traveled to an undisclosed location in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the matter for two weeks.
Sandeep C Patil, advocate appearing for former Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said, "The court was today of the opinion that since Yediyurappa, being a former chief minister, keeping in mind his age and also his conduct of having taken part in the investigation, this is not a case where the investigator should have gone to court and got a warrant."
"There should not be any kind of arrest as he is cooperating. So therefore any such warrant or otherwise is put on hold. And any course steps also the investigator cannot take from now on...He has already written a letter, communicating that I am going to appear on the 17th. In all probability, he will appear on the 17th," he said.
According to police sources, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), reported PTI. The charges stem from a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, who alleged that Yediyurappa molested her daughter during a meeting at his residence in Dollars Colony on February 2 this year.
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