Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to former chief minister BS Yediyurappa in relation to a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
Justice M Nagaprasanna also partly allowed the separate petition filed by the senior BJP leader seeking quashing of the proceedings in the same case.
The judge quashed the July 4, 2024, order, taking cognisance of the case by the trial court, by partly allowing the accompanying petition filed by BS Yeddyurappa, observing that it is not in consonance with the provisions of law.
“The crime, the investigation, and the final report (charge sheet) all remain intact. The matter is remitted back to the hands of the concerned court to pass appropriate orders on the final report so placed before it by the CID, bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order,” the judge said.
The judge also made it clear that the court has not answered any of the contentions advanced by the parties, except with regard to the order of taking cognisance.
“All other contentions would remain open. The petitioner is at liberty to avail of such remedy as is available in law at the appropriate stage before the appropriate forum,” the judge further observed.
The complaint alleges that the former chief minister BS Yediyurappa sexually harassed the 17-year-old daughter of the complainant woman on February 2, 2024, when they went to his house seeking help. Incidentally, the complainant woman died of cancer on May 26, 2024.