Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has upheld the trial court’s decision to take cognizance and issue summons in the sexual assault case filed against former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The ruling comes as a major setback for Yediyurappa, as he will now have to face trial in the case involving allegations of sexual assault on a minor girl.

Justice M. I. Arun of the single-judge bench delivered the verdict on Thursday after completing the hearing on petitions filed by Yediyurappa and co-accused M. Arun, M. Rudresh, and G. Mariswamy. They had challenged the trial court’s order which had recently taken cognizance of the case.

The High Court upheld the trial court’s order to proceed with the case and to issue summons to the accused. However, it clarified that Yediyurappa should not be compelled to appear in court unnecessarily during the proceedings. If his presence is not required, the trial court should consider and allow any request for exemption from personal appearance, the order stated.

The High Court further observed that the trial court must independently evaluate the evidence before it, without being influenced by any observations made in its order. It also said the petitioners are free to file any applications before the trial court, including for discharge from the case. The detailed judgment copy is yet to be made available.

The case dates back to March 2024, when a complaint was filed against Yediyurappa at the Sadashivanagar Police Station. He was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl at his residence in Bengaluru’s Dollars Colony. The complaint was filed by the victim’s mother.

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Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.

Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.

On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.

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Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

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