B S Yediyurappa, a senior BJP leader and former chief minister of Karnataka, was charged on Thursday under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for allegedly harassing a juvenile at his Bengaluru home last month.
Yediyurappa, 81, was arrested after a lady filed a complaint alleging that she went to his home on February 2 in an attempt to get her daughter’s rape case resolved and requested the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the matter.
However, Yediyurappa has refuted the claims, labelling them as “baseless”. The police commissioner has been consulted on the situation, he continued.
“A lady paid me a visit a few days ago. She was sobbing and stating that something was wrong. I questioned her about the situation and told the police commissioner to assist her over the phone. Subsequently, the woman began disparaging me. I have raised the police commissioner’s attention to this issue. Police filed a complaint against me yesterday. It remains to be seen what will transpire next; a political motive does not appear to be at play here,” he told news agency ANI.
1. What’s the case?
The minor was allegedly taken to a room by Yediyurappa, who then allegedly closed the door and harassed her sexually, according to the first information report (FIR). In the FIR, the woman further claimed that Yediyurappa had told her he was investigating whether or not the girl had been raped when she approached him. Later, Yediyurappa is said to have apologized and begged the woman to keep the incident a secret from other people.
The Sadashivanagar police in Bengaluru have registered a case under Section 8 (commit sexual assault) of the Pocso Act and Section 354 (a) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
2. What is POCSO Act?
The Ministry of Women and Child Development pushed for the introduction of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, in order to more effectively address the horrible crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children through clearer and stricter legal provisions.
The purpose of the Act is to protect minors from sexual assault, harassment, and pornography. It also establishes Special Courts to try cases involving these offenses and related situations.
2019 saw an amendment to the Act that included provisions for stiffer penalties for a number of offenses in an effort to discourage offenders and give children a safe, secure, and respectable upbringing.
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