Supreme Court Freezes Trial Against Former Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa in POCSO Case

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday put a hold on trial proceedings against former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Court Directs State CID to Respond

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued a notice to the State CID, seeking its response on why the case should not be remanded to the Karnataka High Court for a fresh examination on merits. The Court’s interim order effectively stays all ongoing trial proceedings.

Yediyurappa’s Plea

Represented by senior advocates Siddharth Luthra and Siddharth Dave, Yediyurappa argued that the High Court had declined to quash the case on November 13, 2025, citing a technical ground, without considering the merits.

Mr. Luthra highlighted that Yediyurappa, 88 years old and a four-time Chief Minister, faced allegations that were not corroborated by any witnesses.

Background of the Case

The case originated from a complaint by the victim’s mother, alleging that Yediyurappa had sexually assaulted her and later her 17-year-old daughter during a meeting in February 2024 at his Bengaluru residence.

The Sadashivanagar police initially registered the complaint on March 14, 2024, which was later transferred to the CID. The CID re-registered the FIR under the POCSO Act and filed a charge sheet.

The Supreme Court’s intervention marks a significant development in the high-profile case, with further hearings expected after the CID submits its response.