The Supreme Court has put an immediate halt to the POCSO trial proceedings against former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stayed the trial after admitting Yediyurappa’s appeal challenging the Karnataka High Court’s refusal to quash the case.
The court issued notice to the Karnataka government and scheduled the matter for further hearing later. Until then, all proceedings before the fast-track special POCSO court will remain suspended.
The case originates from a complaint filed on March 14, 2024, by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, who alleged that Yediyurappa molested her daughter at his Bengaluru residence on February 2, 2024. The complainant further accused him of attempting a financial settlement to silence the case. She later died due to lung cancer.
Before approaching the Supreme Court, Yediyurappa sought the quashing of the charges in the Karnataka High Court. Although the High Court granted him anticipatory bail and directed the trial court to reconsider the matter, the fast-track court took fresh cognisance of the case and ordered him to appear on March 15. His second appeal to the High Court to quash the case was rejected, prompting him to challenge the order before the Supreme Court.
Yediyurappa has consistently denied the allegations and described the case as politically motivated.
