Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa is accused of sexual assault and has been charged under Pocso

Based on a complaint from a 17-year-old girl’s mother, senior BJP politician and former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has been charged under the POCSO Act, police said here on Friday.

During a meeting on February 2, the complainant claimed that Yediyurappa had sexually molested her daughter.

The BJP heavyweight has been charged under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 354-A of the Indian Penal Code, according to Sadashivanagar police.

According to police sources, the kid’s mother had previously filed over 50 complaints against a number of individuals, including the staff of then-Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar, for allegedly assaulting and manhandling the youngster.

She had filed complaints against Bhaskar Rao, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and former Bengaluru police commissioner Kumar on January 29, 2021, and September 21, 2022, respectively, for allegedly “conspiring to ruin her life” on January 18, 2022.

There are also two alleged videos that seem to have been taken by the girl when she went to visit Yediyurappa at his house with her mother.

During one video, the mother of the girl is heard calling Yediyurappa ‘Appa Ji’ and mentioning that she is from Shivamogga, the area where the BJP politician is from.

She reportedly informs him that she has enormous wealth—many crores of rupees—that is embroiled in legal disputes and asks for his assistance.

The girl’s mother is seen grasping Yediyurappa’s hand and sitting next to him shortly after they enter his home in the second video.

Yediyurappa responded by stating that while the lady had been attempting to meet him, she had never been permitted entry into his home.

“I invited her inside my home once while she was weeping and told Police Commissioner B Dayananda that she had suffered some injustice. But I realized this lady is inappropriate when she began criticizing me in front of me,” he said.

Yediyurappa said that she added a twist to the situation after meeting with the Police Commissioner.

“I have learned that I am the subject of a formal complaint. “I’ll take legal action if necessary, but when someone tries to help someone, this happens,” the member of the BJP Parliamentary Board said.

He claimed to have even given her cash.

Home Minister of Karnataka, G Parameshwara, stated: “We can’t comment till the probe is over. Since our statement concerns a former chief minister, we must proceed with considerable caution. Since a lady has filed a complaint, we must be cautious in our statement.”

Furthermore, he insisted, “Some people say the woman is mentally sick.”