Take Proactive Legal Action In BS Yediyurappa Sexual Assault Case: Congress Minister Urges NCPCR Chief

Priyank Kharge, a minister in the Siddaramaiah government, has urged the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection Of Child Rights Priyank Kanoongo to take pro-active legal action against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in connection with a sexual assault case of a minor.

On X, Kharge, without mentioning the name of Yediyurappa, asked Kanoongo to meet the victim to express solidarity. He also asked the NCPCR chairperson to hold a press conference while asking the victim to suggest the next steps for the commission to go forward in the case at the Sadashivanagar Police Station.

He further said, "Also take pro-active legal action on the perpetrator."

Based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act. The girl's mother alleged that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting on February 2.

The case under section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act and Section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).Section 354 (a) (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and section 8 (sexual assault of a minor) of the POCSO Act have been invoked against the former Karnataka CM.

According to a report in PTI, the girl's mother had lodged over 50 complaints against various people including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar, and his staff, for allegedly manhandling her and abusing her.

She had also filed a complaint against Kumar twice - in 2021 and 2022 - and also against the retired Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao for allegedly "conspiring to ruin her life in 2022.

However, the case has been transferred to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.

However, the Lingayat strongman Yediyurappa has denied all charges. "Once when she was crying, I called her inside my house and spoke to the Police Commissioner B Dayananda, that some injustice had happened to her. However, when she started speaking something against me in front of me, I concluded that this woman is not proper," he said on Friday.