Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced on Friday that it would be “good” if former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa returns to Bengaluru soon and cooperates with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing a POCSO case against him. A non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued against Yediyurappa, who is reportedly at an undisclosed location in New Delhi.
“The warrant has been issued, he will be brought in, information will be gathered, and further action will be taken according to the law,” Parameshwara told reporters. Yediyurappa has informed that he will return on June 17, Parameshwara added, stressing the importance of his prompt return.
A Bengaluru court issued the non-bailable arrest warrant on Thursday following a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on March 14 this year. The Special Investigation Team of the CID requested the arrest warrant after Yediyurappa failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday, despite requesting more time to join the probe.
Responding to BJP allegations of “vendetta politics” by the ruling Congress, Parameshwara dismissed these claims, stating, “They have to say such things, what else can they say?” He also addressed concerns about the police’s delayed action, explaining that the investigation required time for proper verification and that procedural steps were followed.
Parameshwara rejected reports suggesting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had instructed for Yediyurappa’s arrest during his recent visit to Bengaluru. “No, why will he involve himself in this? It is a local issue….there is no pressure from anyone,” Parameshwara stated.
The charges against the former CM include the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code, based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February 2 this year at his residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru.
The victim’s brother filed a petition earlier this week, urging the court to arrest and interrogate Yediyurappa due to the lack of progress in the investigation. The 54-year-old woman who made the allegations died last month from lung cancer.
Yediyurappa has denied the charges and pledged to fight the case legally. In April, the CID collected his voice sample after summoning him to their office. The government has appointed Special Public Prosecutor Ashok H. Nayak to represent the CID in this case. Yediyurappa has filed two separate petitions in the High Court, seeking anticipatory bail and the quashing of the FIR.
