Bengaluru: HC upholds cognizance order against Yediyurappa in POCSO case
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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UP: Girl raped by two youths, juvenile at Banda hotel, all accused held
Banda (UP) (PTI): A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped at a hotel here by two youths and a minor, who then abandoned her under a bridge, police said on Thursday.
The two youths involved in the crime were arrested, and the juvenile was apprehended on Wednesday, they said.
According to Atarra Circle Officer Praveen Yadav, the arrested have been identified as Mahesh Kushwaha (18), Shakti Singh (19), and a 15-year-old boy, all residents of Girwan.
He said the incident took place around 8.30 pm on Tuesday.
The complaint filed by the girl's father stated that his daughter had gone to the market in Atarra town with a friend, when the three accused on a motorcycle made her inhale some intoxicant. They took the semi-conscious teenager to a hotel on Station Road, committed the crime and then abandoned her under the Ken Canal bridge before fleeing, CO Yadav said.
A case was registered on Wednesday, and all the accused were held, the CO said.
He added that one of the arrested accused was a former acquaintance of the victim. RUK
