Overview
- Justice M. I. Arun upheld the trial court’s February 28 cognisance and summons, refusing to quash the case against the former chief minister.
- The trial court was told not to insist on Yediyurappa’s presence unless essential and to consider any exemption applications he files.
- The High Court said the case must be decided strictly on evidence led at trial, and it allowed the accused to seek discharge and file other permissible applications.
- The ruling follows a February 7 High Court order that set aside an earlier, unreasoned cognisance but left the investigation and chargesheet intact, after which the trial court issued a fresh order on February 28.
- The case stems from allegations that he assaulted a 17-year-old on February 2, 2024, with the CID later filing a chargesheet citing POCSO and IPC sections 354A, 204, and 214, including claims of a Rs 2 lakh payment and deletion of images, which he denies as politically motivated.