Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said that the former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, accused in the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl, is currently in Delhi and is expected to return on 17th June.

A non-bailable warrant was issued on Thursday against Yediyurappa. The police are planning to bring him in for questioning in the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case.

"A warrant has been issued for Yediyurappa. Police will bring him along with them and get all the information related to the case. Then legal action will be taken. There is information that he is in Delhi. He said he would come on Monday, 16th June," Parameshwara told reporters.

The BJP has alleged a conspiracy by the Congress in this case to divert attention from a corruption case involving Minister B Nagendra. Talking to reporters in Hubli, BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai said, "It looks like part of a conspiracy by Congress, but BS Yediyurappa will come out clean from this case."

BJP Karnataka, through their official X handle, posted that, "Following the humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leaders have become busy plotting various conspiracies against the BJP."

The post further added, "Congress, resentful towards the BJP, is now attempting to arrest our respected leader, @BSYBJP ji, based on a complaint from a mentally unstable woman. This comes after @RahulGandhi faced court proceedings for spreading misinformation against @BJP4Karnataka… Previously, the Home Minister @DrParameshwara himself had stated that the complaint from the mentally unstable woman was malicious and without merit. It is absurd that the case is being revived after three months."

Meanwhile, Parameshwara responded to BJP's allegation, stating that "BJP says so. They had sent the video to FSL; the report should come, right? All checks should be done as per the procedure.

Yediyurappa is a senior person and one of the VIPs, so everything should be checked. There is an arrest warrant against Yediyurappa. It would be good if he came soon. Rahul Gandhi is not involved in this. BJP is just making a story. This does not make sense..."

In March, the mother of the victim filed a complaint against Yediyurappa at the Sadashivanagar police station in Bengaluru, alleging that he sexually assaulted her daughter. Following this, the victim's brother filed a petition in court.

The fast-track court issued a non-bailable warrant against Yediyurappa, directing his immediate arrest. As per the statement received from his office, he has applied for anticipatory bail at a special court.

(with inputs from the agency)