A case has been registered against former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl. It has been filed based on a complaint by the mother of the girl.
Yediyurappa has been charged under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and 354(A) (sexual harassment) of the IPC.
According to the FIR, the incident allegedly happened on February 2 when the mother and daughter visited the BJP veteran to seek assistance in a cheating case.
Yediyurappa, however, has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless”. He added that the matter has been put before the police commissioner.
“A few days ago a woman came to my house. She was crying saying that there was some problem. I asked her what was the matter and I personally called the police commissioner about the matter and told him to help her. Later, the woman started talking against me. I have brought this matter to the attention of the police commissioner. Yesterday police filed a complaint against me. Let’s see what happens next, I can’t say that there is a political motive behind this,” he said.
Meanwhile, the complainant in the case has already registered as many as 53 cases (not related to BS Yediyurappa) till date. His office released a list of cases she has filed in the past over different matters, insinuating she has a habit of registering cases.
The complainant has lodged a series of cases against known troublemakers, and has been filing complaints since 2015. In 2015, she lodged a sexual assault complaint involving her daughter against a relative of the complainant’s husband.
Congress leader and Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara said the police were investigating the matter, and the truth would only be revealed when the probe was completed.
On claims that the complainant was mentally ill, the minister declined to comment on the same. Parmeshwar, however, said he did not think there was any “political conspiracy” as the complainant in the matter had consistently been filing cases.
The Karnataka Home Minister also declined to answer when asked if Yediyurappa would be detained or arrested.
“I don’t want to comment on the police investigation. There is an SOP followed by police,” Parmeshwar said.
Yediyurappa served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka multiple times – between 2008 and 2011, for a shortwhile in May 2018, and again from July 2019 to 2021.
His resignation in 2021 had come after weeks of speculation and uncertainty. While announcing his decision, Yediyurappa was caught breaking down on the stage and saying the people of the state had lost faith in the government.
BS Yediyurappa was succeeded by the BJP’s Basavaraj Somappa Bommai, who became the 23rd Chief Minister of Karnataka. Bommai served in the position from July 2021 to May 2023. The BJP has announced Bommai as its candidate from Haveri constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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