Will appear before CID for inquiry on June 17: Yediyurappa

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said he will appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 17 for inquiry in connection with the POCSO case registered against him.

On his arrival in the city, the former CM said people would teach a lesson to those "indulging in conspiracies" against him.

The Kar nataka High Court on Friday restrained CID from arresting Yediyurappa in connection with the POCSO case. It also directed the veteran BJP leader to appear before CID, which is probing the case, on June 17.

"I had gone to Delhi for a pre scheduled programme. I had informed in advance in writing that I will appear for an inquiry on June 17. The High Court has given an order restraining CID (from arresting). I'm appearing for an inquiry on Monday. Unnecessarily some tried to create confusion, I don't want to blame anyone, everyone knows the fact," Yediyurappa.

While speaking to reporters here, he said, "... people will teach a lesson to those indulging in conspiracies."

A court here on Thursday had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa in the case registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on March 14 this year.

The Special Investigation Team of the CID had moved the First Fast Track Court seeking an arrest warrant against him since he failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday.

According to police, Yediyurappa has been booked under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the IPC based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February 2 this year, at his residence.

Yediyurappa, who has denied the charge, said he would fight the case legally. He has filed two separate petitions in the High Court, seeking anticipatory bail and quashing the FIR. The victim's mother, who had leveled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital here last month, due to lung cancer.

Earlier this week, the victim's brother had moved the court alleging that though the case was registered on March 14, no progress has been made in the investigation. The petitioner prayed the court for a direction to the police to arrest Yediyurappa and interrogate him.