Karnataka High Court Reserves Verdict On Former CM Yediyurappa's Plea To Quash POCSO Case

The Karnataka High Court on Saturday (October 25) reserved its verdict former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's plea for quashing an order taking cognizance and issuance of summons dated 28.02.2025 in relation to a POCSO Act case. 

After hearing all the parties, Justice M I Arun reserved its verdict. 

Yeidyurappa has also sought quashing of an FIR and chargesheet filed against him in the case. It may be noted that by its order dated February 7, the high court had set aside the trial order taking cognizance of offences and had remitted the matter back to the trial court while saying that the probe and final report remains intact.

On February 28, the Special Court passed the second cognizance order. This order was also stayed by the high court.

As per the mother's (complainant) complaint, Yediyurappa allegedly sexually assaulted her then 17-year-old daughter during a meeting in February last year, at his residence in Bengaluru. On March 14, 2024, the Sadashivanagar police had registered the case. Later, it was transferred to CID for further investigation which re-registered the FIR and filed a chargesheet.

Senior Advocate CV Nagesh had appeared for Yediyurappa and argued that the earlier cognizance order was quashed by the High Court on finding that there was no application of mind by the Special Court. Raising doubts about the complaint, Nagesh has submitted, "On 2-02-2024, the offence is said to have been committed at 11.30 am. They met the Commissioner of police on the same day. If something had happened on that morning, they would have opened their mouth before the Commissioner of Police."

"On 05-02-2024 they again visited me and took pictures with me. Again they met the Commissioner of Police and they did not whisper anything. Even on Feb 20, they met the CP but they did not open their lips. First time when certain political turmoil was happening in the state, on March 14, they lodged a complaint against me," Nagesh added.

Nagesh submitted that the witnesses, who were stated to be present at Yediyurappa's residence on the date of the offence, had given statements that nothing has happened. He argued that the Special Court passed the order in a mechanical manner.

Special Public Prosecutor Professor Ravivarma Kumar contended that the special court had, based on the evidence supplied by the prosecution and considering the statement of the victim, applied its mind while taking cognizance of the offence.

Case Title: BS Yediyurappa AND The Criminal Investigating Department

Case No: WP 7447/2025 c/w WP 7322/2025