Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa molested a minor and then gave money to the girl and her mother, as per a chargesheet filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The veteran BJP leader has been charged in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case.
The case was filed by the minor’s mother, who alleged that Yediyurappa molested her daughter during a meeting on February 2 at his Bengaluru residence. The woman and her daughter had paid a visit to the former Karnataka Chief Minister to seek help in getting justice in a previous case of sexual assault (on the daughter) and other issues.
According to the chargesheet, Yediyurappa, allegedly held the minor's right wrist with his left hand when she and her mother visited him. Yediyurappa then took the girl to a meeting room adjacent to the hall, latching the door behind them, the chargesheet mentioned.
Inside the room, Yediyurappa allegedly asked the girl if she remembered the face of the person who raped her. When the teenager, who was six and a half years old at the time of the incident, replied affirmatively, Yediyurappa allegedly molested her, the chargesheet said.
It said that the distressed girl pushed his hand away and demanded the door be opened and, following this, Yediyurappa gave the girl some money and unlatched the door.
Upon exiting the room, Yediyurappa gave some money to the teenager's mother and stated he couldn't help her, subsequently sending her away, the police chargesheet said.
The CID mentioned that the situation took a further turn on February 20 this year, when the teen's mother uploaded a video of her visit on Facebook. In response, Yediyurappa, through his aides, who are accused A2, A3, and A4 in the chargesheet, summoned the woman and her daughter to his house.
It further said that Yediyurappa convinced the complainant to delete the video and photos from Facebook and her phone gallery. It further alleged that Yediruappa, through one of his aides, handed over Rs 2 lakh to the girl's mother.
Meanwhile, BS Yediyurappa has filed a plea in Karnataka High Court seeking the dismissal of charges of sexual assault against the minor.
The 81-year-old Yediyurappa has been charged under Section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Sections 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
