What Karnataka High Court told BS Yediyurappa who sought relaxation of bail condition in POCSO case

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yediyurappa has moved a plea requesting the Karnataka High Court to relax travel restrictions imposed on him while granting him anticipatory bail in the case filed against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act). .Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur said he would hear the matter immediately after the upcoming summer holidays of the High Court and asked the State to file its response by then. .In a February 2025 order, the High Court had told Yediyurappa to seek permission before he travelled out of the jurisdiction of the trial court that deals with the POCSO case against him. This was one of several conditions imposed for granting the former Chief Minister anticipatory bail in a case involving allegations that he sexually harassed a 17-year-old girl.Today, Senior Advocate CV Nagesh appeared for Yediyurappa and argued that since he is a senior political leader, he often has to travel."Every second, every minute, I can't go to court for permission ... I am a senior political leader of a political party. I need to keep travelling throughout the State (and the) country," he said. .Justice Yerur replied that Yediyurappa should have thought of these things before. Senior political leaders are expected to remain above board at all times, the judge orally remarked. "With the greatest respect to the senior political leader ... they need to be aware of all these things when they get involved in such deplorable activities," Justice Yerur said. Senior Advocate Nagesh was prompt to maintain that the allegations levelled against Yediyurappa were false. "There should be some semblance of truth in it!" he added. .The judge eventually indicated that he cannot hear the matter before the upcoming court holidays. He asked the State's counsel to examine whether the travel restrictions can be lifted for some time so that Yediyurappa can travel as part of his political duties. During the hearing, the Court noted that Yediyurappa is a member of a parliamentary board. "For the next one month, you (BS Yediyurappa) are not going anywhere. I will not be sitting next week, I will only be sitting after 21st. After vacation, we will list it.. (addressing the State) It is not a big ask to travel for this period.. you (SPP) file your objections. We will keep it open," the Court said. The travel restrictions on Yediyurappa will continue until then, the Court clarified. Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) Prof. Ravivarma Kumar and Ashok N Nayak represented the Crime Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the case against Yediyurappa. The SPPs have opposed Yediyurappa's plea to relax the bail conditions, adding that objections would be filed. .The case against Yediyurappa was registered on allegations by a woman that Yediyurappa molested her 17-year-old daughter, who had accompanied the woman on a visit to the senior BJP leader's residence to seek some help.The woman also alleged that the former Chief Minister tried to hush up the issue by offering her money.Based on her complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 8 of the POCSO Act and Section 354(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on charges of sexual harassment of a minor.Notably, the trial court's July 2024 decision to take cognizance (judicial notice) of the case and summon Yediyurappa in the matter was quashed by the High Court in February on the ground that it was vague and cryptic. A fresh trial court order taking cognisance and summoning Yediyurappa to appear for trial was then passed on February 28. However, Yediyurappa has challenged this trial court order as well. On March 14, the High Court granted him interim relief by staying the February 28 trial court order.