The Karnataka High Court has directed former state Chief Minister Yediyurappa to appear before the CID in connection with the case registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, on June 17. The court also directed the police not to arrest Yediyurappa in the case and asks the latter to cooperate with the probe. 

The bench, headed by Justice Krishna S Dixit, mentioned that the investigation should not be conducted with the intention of making an arrest.

Claiming that the warrant was issued as an "act of vendetta" against Yediyurappa, Senior counsel CV Nagesh -- appearing for Yediyurappa, contended that the BJP veteran had appeared for investigation after the first notice was served based on the case lodged in March. The BJP leader had sought time after the issuance of the second notice, the counsel said. 

While directing the police to carry out investigation into the case, the court refused to pass orders on issuing a stay on the probe and quashing of the case. Following this, the matter was adjourned for two weeks.

To recall, a Bengaluru court had on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the former Karnataka CM in the case on March 14 this year. The CID's Special Investigation Team had moved the First Fast Track Court seeking an arrest warrant against the veteran BJP leader since he failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday. He had sought time to join the probe.

Based on a complaint lodged by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, the police booked Yediyurappa under the POCSO Act and Section 354 A (Sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complainant alleged that the BJP leader molested her daughter during a meeting at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru on February 2 this year.

Earlier this week, the victim's brother moved a petition in the court claiming that the case investigation had not progressed even though the case was registered on March 14. The petitioner prayed that Yediyurappa should be arrested and interrogated.

The Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan had transferred the case to the CID for further investigation after the Sadashivanagar police registered the case in March. 

Earlier today, reports had emerged claiming that the veteran BJP leader was in an 'undisclosed' location in New Delhi. Following this, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara warned that it would be "good" if Yediyurappa came back to Bengaluru at the earliest as a warrant had been issued against him.