Former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa booked under Pocso, faces allegation of sexual assault

PTI

Bengaluru, March 15

Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, police said here on Friday.

The complainant alleged that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting on February 2.

According to Sadashivanagar police, the BJP stalwart has been booked under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 354-A of the IPC.

Police sources said the girl's mother had, in the past, lodged over 50 complaints against various people, including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar, and his staff, for allegedly manhandling her and abusing her.

She had lodged a complaint against Kumar twice -- once on January 29, 2021, and then on September 21, 2022, and also against the retired Bengaluru police commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao for allegedly "conspiring to ruin her life", on January 18, 2022.

Two purported videos have also emerged, apparently filmed by the girl when she went to meet Yediyurappa at his residence with her mother.

In one video, the girl's mother is seen addressing Yediyurappa as 'Appa Ji' and tells him that she hails from Shivamogga, the home district of the BJP leader.

She allegedly tells him that she has huge wealth running into several crores of rupees, which is caught in litigation and sought his help.

In the second video, the girl's mother is seen sitting next to Yediyurappa soon after entering his house and holding his hand.

Reacting to it, Yediyurappa said the woman had been trying to meet him but was never allowed to enter his house.

"Once when she was crying, I called her inside my house and spoke to the Police Commissioner B Dayananda, that some injustice had happened to her. However, when she started speaking something against me in front of me, I concluded that this woman is not proper," he said.

After meeting the Police Commissioner, she gave a twist to the matter, Yediyurappa alleged.

"I heard that an FIR has been registered against me. I will do whatever has to be done legally but this happens when one tries to help somebody," the BJP Parliamentary Board member said.

He said that he even gave her money.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said: "Till the investigation is completed, we cannot say anything. We have to be extremely cautious in our statement because it pertains to a former chief minister. We need to make our statement carefully because a woman has lodged a complaint."    

He also maintained: "Some people say the woman is mentally sick." 

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