An FIR has been registered against former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl. He has been charged under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and 354(A) of the IPC.
The case was filed by Sadashivanagar police in Bengaluru based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl.
According to the FIR lodged against Yediyurappa, the incident happened on February 2 when the mother and daughter visited Yediyurappa to seek assistance in a cheating case.
Meanwhile, the complainant in the case has already registered as many as 53 cases (not related to the ex-Karnataka Chief Minister) till date. Yediyurappa's office released a list of cases the complainant has filed in the past over different matters, insinuating she has a habit of registering cases.
The complainant has lodged a series of complaints against known troublemakers, and has been filing complaints since 2015, India Today has learnt. In 2015, she lodged a sexual assault complaint involving her daughter against a relative of the complainant's husband, at Bengaluru's Electronic City police station.
Congress leader and Karnataka's Home Minister G Parmeshwar said that the police are investigating the matter, and the truth will only be revealed when the probe has been completed.
On claims that the complainant is mentally ill, the minister declined to comment on the same. Parmeshwar, however, said he does not think there is any "political conspiracy" as the complaint in the matter has 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.
