Bengaluru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a chargesheet against former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, along with Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code, among other sections. This development came on Thursday.
After an incident involving the victim, a 17-year-old girl who visited Yediyurappa’s residence with her mother on February 2, 2024, seeking assistance to expedite an investigation into a previous rape case she experienced at the age of 7.
Allegations state that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted the girl in a room at his residence. The FIR was filed on March 14th, prompting the case’s transfer to the CID. Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had intervened on June 14th, halting Yediyurappa’s arrest following an arrest warrant issued by the trial court.
The CID submitted a comprehensive 750-page chargesheet to the Fast Track Court – 1 for POCSO Act, 2012 cases, naming Yediyurappa and three of his associates: Arun Y. M., M. Rudresh, and G. Mariswamy. These aides are accused of tampering with evidence and attempting to cover up the incident on behalf of the former Chief Minister. Witnesses, totaling 74 individuals, have been listed in the chargesheet.
In addition to POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 354A of the IPC, the accused face charges under Sections 204 (destruction of evidence), and 214 (offering gifts to screen an offender).
