Karnataka: Will appear before CID on June 17, says Yediyurappa

Senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa announced on Saturday (June 15) that he will present himself for inquiry before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 17, regarding the POCSO case filed against him.

On his arrival in the city, the former CM said people would teach a lesson to those "indulging in conspiracies" against him.

The Karnataka high court on Friday restrained CID from arresting Yediyurappa in connection with the POCSO case.

'Unnecessary confusion'

It also directed the veteran BJP leader to appear before CID, which is probing the case, on June 17.

"I had gone to Delhi for a pre scheduled programme. I had informed in advance in writing that I will appear for an inquiry on June 17. The High Court has given an order restraining CID (from arresting). I'm appearing for an inquiry on Monday. Unnecessarily some tried to create confusion, I don't want to blame anyone, everyone knows the fact," Yediyurappa.

While speaking to reporters here, he said, "... people will teach a lesson to those indulging in conspiracies."

POCSO case

A court in Bengaluru on Thursday had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa in the case registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on March 14 this year.

The Special Investigation Team of the CID had moved the First Fast Track Court seeking an arrest warrant against him since he failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday.

According to police, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February two this year, at his residence in Dollars Colony here.

Yediyurappa, who has denied the charge, said he would fight the case legally. He has filed two separate petitions in the high court, seeking anticipatory bail and quashing the FIR.

No progress in case

The victim's mother, who had leveled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital here last month, due to lung cancer.

Earlier this week, the victim's brother had moved the court alleging that though the case was registered on March 14, no progress has been made in the investigation. The petitioner prayed the court for a direction to the police to arrest Yediyurappa and interrogate him.

After the Sadashivanagar police registered the case in March, the Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan had issued an order transferring it to the CID for further investigation.

In April, the CID collected the voice sample of Yediyurappa after summoning him to the office.

(With agency inputs)