Ex-Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa (BSY) denies sexually harassing minor girl, says he was only trying to help legally

BENGALURU: During a three hour questioning by CID’s SIT sleuths Monday, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa denied allegations of sexually misbehaving with a minor girl and said he was “only trying” to help her legally in an earlier sexual-assault case since the 17-year-old girl and her mother were from his family’s home constituency of Shikaripur in Shivamogga.
The girl’s now-deceased mother had lodged a complaint against BJP parliamentary board member Yediyurappa on March 14 this year at Sadashivanagar police station in Bengaluru.
She had said she had visited Yediyurappa’s house along with her daughter on Feb 2, seeking help in investigations into her daughter’s rape case.
Yediyurappa allegedly took the girl into a room and touched her inappropriately. He opened the door after five minutes and the girl explained to her mother about the alleged harassment. The mother claimed he apologised for his behaviour.
Duo from Shikaripura: BSY
A team headed by SP Sarah Fathima and DySP Puneeth Kumar R questioned the former CM at the CID office from 11am to 2.30pm. According to sources, the officers have not told Yediyurappa whether he has to appear again before them.
The officials are reported to have asked Yediyurappa if he knew the complainant and her daughter. Yediyurappa said they are from Shikaripur, his constituency. The officers asked him why had they visited his house on Feb 2. He said they had come seeking help in a rape case. Yediyurapa said he directed the woman-daughter duo, since they were from his town, to meet the police commis sioner. Accordingly, he communicated to the commissioner’s office about their visit. The duo met the commissioner the same day and sought the department's assistance.
Denying allegations of misbehaviour, Yediyurappa said if he had harassed the girl as alleged, why would he refer them to the police commissioner? When they met the police chief, why didn’t they file any complaint against him?
Further, Yediyurappa told officials that the woman visited his house again on February 5 seeking help in the same matter. If he had harassed her daughter, why would she visit him again and click photos with him, he was quoted as saying by sources privy to the proceedings.