Karnataka HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To BS Yediyurappa In POCSO Case But Refuses To Quash FIR

In its ruling, the High Court questioned the manner in which the trial court had permitted proceedings in the case, emphasising that the lower court must reassess the matter independently.

With this decision, the trial court can no longer summon Yediyurappa.

Source : X

The Karnataka High Court on Friday refused to quash the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case against former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, but granted him anticipatory bail, providing interim relief.

In its ruling, the High Court questioned the manner in which the trial court had permitted proceedings in the case, emphasising that the lower court must reassess the matter independently. With this decision, the trial court can no longer summon Yediyurappa under the previous order and must now decide the next course of action based on its discretion.

"Writ petition is allowed in part. The order of taking cognizance by the concerned court dated 04-07-2024, qua accused number 1 (Yeddyurappa) stands obliterated. The crime, the investigation and the final report all remain intact. The matter is remitted back to the hands of the concerned court to pass appropriate orders on the final report so placed before it by the CID bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order," Justice Nagaprasanna said, as per a report on PTI.

BS Yediyurappa (81) had petitioned for the dismissal of a criminal case filed against him under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. However, his request was denied by the Karnataka High Court.

On March 14, 2024, the case was initially registered following a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, who alleged that Yediyurappa had sexually assaulted her daughter on February 2 during a meeting at his residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID), which is handling the probe, filed a charge sheet on June 27, 2024, before a Fast Track Court, alleging that Yediyurappa and three of his aides had offered monetary compensation to the minor girl and her mother in an attempt to silence them.