Bengaluru (TIP)- The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police on Thursday filed a chargesheetagainst former Karnataka chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa for the alleged sexual assault of a minor who visited his home with her mother to seek help in a case of sexual assault on the minor that reportedly occurred in 2015.
The CID filed the chargesheet in a fast track court designated for cases filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, on Thursday, June 27, evening.
The 81-year-old former CM has been charged for sexual assault under Section 8 of the POCSO Act, for sexual harassment under Section 354 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, for destroying evidence under IPC Section 204 and for offering gifts to cover up an offence under Section 214.
Three associates of the former CM — Arun Y M, Rudresh M, and Y Mariswamy — are also accused in the case under Sections 204 and 214 of the IPC for destroying evidence of a video recording by the victim’s mother of her confrontation of Yediyurappa after the alleged incident.
The chargesheet was filed by the CID a day ahead of a high court hearing of a petition filed by Yediyurappa for quashing of the FIR registered against him on March 14 for the alleged incident of sexual assault of a teenager on February 2, 2024.
The Karnataka High Court on June 14 directed the CID not to arrest Yediyurappa on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the POCSO court on June 13 by pointing out that the former CM was no “Tom, Dick or Harry” and that he had agreed to appear before the CID on June 17 to participate in investigations as sought by the CID.