'Senior politician should know better': Karnataka HC on Pocso case against B S Yediyurappa

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered a notice to the state government on an application filed by former chief minister B S Yediyurappa seeking modification in the conditions of his anticipatory bail in a child sex abuse case. 

While granting anticipatory bail on February 7, 2025, the high court had stipulated that Yediyurappa shall not leave the jurisdiction of the jurisdictional court without prior permission. 

Appearing for Yediyurappa, senior advocate C V Nagesh stated that being a senior political leader of a political party, Yediyurappa needs to keep moving throughout the state and at times throughout the country. 

At this point, Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur orally said: “With great respect to the senior counsel and so-called senior political leader, they should be aware of all this, when they get involved in all these activities, which are totally deplorable. They should be standing on a higher pedestal to show…” 

Meanwhile, Special Public Prosecutor Professor Ravivarma Kumar informed that he would place all the facts before the court. 

The court then orally said, “Now for the next one month, you are not going anywhere. I will not be sitting next week and resuming after April 21. After vacation, we will list the matter.” The court directed the prosecution to file objections to the application. 

The prosecution case as per the charge sheet filed by the CID is that Yediyurappa sexually harassed a 17-year-old girl on February 2, 2024, in his house when the teenager had gone there with her mother to seek help in another case. Incidentally, the girl’s mother and the complainant in the case died of cancer on May 26, 2024.