Former Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa has urgently moved the Supreme Court after the Karnataka High Court allowed the POCSO case against him to proceed to trial. The appeal seeks a stay on the summons and upcoming proceedings.
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NEW DELHI: Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Karnataka High Court order, which allowed the Pocso case against him to proceed to the trial stage. The development has drawn national attention, as the case involves allegations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act alongside several IPC sections related to sexual harassment and destruction of evidence.
Background
On November 13, a single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court upheld the special court’s February 28 order taking cognisance of the CID chargesheet.
The High Court stated:
“The order of the special court of taking cognisance and issuing summons to the accused under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, is upheld.”
The order cleared the way for the trial to begin. Soon after, on November 18, the special Pocso court issued summons instructing Yediyurappa and three co-accused to appear on December 2.
The summons is based partly on the fast-track requirement under POCSO. The court observed:
“As already stated, the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka confirmed the order of taking cognisance and issuing of summons to accused No.1 to 4… as per Section 35 of the Pocso Act, the evidence of a child shall be recorded within 30 days of taking cognisance.”
This timeline makes the case time-sensitive, which is why the prosecution sought an advancement of the earlier hearing date.
ALSO READ: Trial Must Continue: Karnataka HC Refuses to Quash POCSO Case Against B.S. Yediyurappa
Allegations of the Case
The case began on March 14, 2024, after the Bengaluru police registered an FIR based on the complaint of a mother alleging that her daughter was sexually assaulted during a visit to Yediyurappa’s residence on February 2, 2024.
The CID chargesheet, filed on June 27, names:
- B. S. Yediyurappa
- Rudresh M
- Arun Y. M
- Mariswamy G
According to the chargesheet, the three associates allegedly helped to “delete video recordings and pictures of a confrontation” at Yediyurappa’s home and attempted to “pay money to the victim’s mother to keep quiet.”
The victim’s mother later passed away while undergoing treatment for cancer.
What the High Court Said
Although the High Court upheld the cognisance and summons, it observed that Yediyurappa need not be compelled to appear at every hearing:
“The trial court shall not insist upon presence of accused No.1 unless it is necessary during the course of the trial and will entertain the exemption application filed on behalf of accused No.1 unless his presence is essential.”
However, unless the Supreme Court stays the order, Yediyurappa must appear on December 2 before the special Pocso court for his first appearance.
Timeline of the Pocso Case Against B. S. Yediyurappa
The case began with the alleged incident on February 2, 2024, followed by the filing of an FIR on March 14, 2024, by the Bengaluru police. After nearly three months of investigation, the CID filed a chargesheet on June 27, 2024, naming Yediyurappa and three associates as accused.
The special Pocso court first took cognisance of the chargesheet on July 4, 2024, but that order was later challenged. On February 7, 2025, the Karnataka High Court sent the matter back to the special court for fresh cognisance while granting Yediyurappa anticipatory bail.
Following that direction, the special court took fresh cognisance on February 28, 2025, and issued summons requiring Yediyurappa to appear on March 15, 2025, leading to another challenge before the High Court.
Finally, on November 13, 2025, the Karnataka High Court upheld the cognisance and summons, stating that the special court had followed due process. This decision prompted the special court to issue fresh summons on November 18, asking the accused to appear on December 2, 2025. Now, the matter is pending before the Supreme Court after Yediyurappa filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) seeking a stay on the proceedings.
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