Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, aged 81, has been charged under a provision of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) following an accusation of sexual assault by a 17-year-old individual. The complaint was lodged at a police station in Bengaluru on Thursday evening.
As per the FIR, which has been reviewed by Times Now, Yediyurappa faces charges under section 8 of the POCSO Act and Section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code.
Accompanied by her mother, the 17-year-old complainant visited the Sadashivanagar police station to file the FIR, according to police officials.
Reportedly, the alleged incident occurred on February 2, 2024, when both the complainant and her mother sought Yediyurappa’s assistance in connection with another case of sexual assault. Yediyurappa has not yet responded to the allegations.
Under the POCSO Act of 2012, the minimum sentence is three years, contingent upon the section under which the offense falls. For instance, section 4 mandates a minimum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine, as determined by the court, for the sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age.