Yediyurappa also said the complainant in this case had made several complaints against senior officers, the police, and her family members as well. (Credit: X/@BSYBJP)Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa argued before the Karnataka High Court Saturday that the one-year period, to complete the trial in a sexual assault case against him, mandated by Section 35 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) law after taking cognizance of the offence has not yet begun.Among other points raised by Yediyurappa was the fact that the complainant in this case had made several complaints against senior officers, the police, and her family members as well. The case is currently being heard by a Single Judge Bench of Justice M I Arun.The case was based on the complaint by a woman who accused Yediyurappa of inappropriately touching her daughter when they visited him in February 2024 to seek help regarding an earlier instance of sexual assault. The Bengaluru police filed a First Information Report (FIR) on March 14 that year.While trials in Pocso cases are required to be completed within one year of taking cognisance of offences, legal challenges have delayed them in this instance.Previously hearing this petition by Yediyurappa, Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur had this March stayed the cognizance as well as the summons for Yediyurappa to appear before the trial court in person.Arguing on behalf of Yedyurappa, senior counsel CV Nagesh stated, “35(2) stipulates disposal of the case from the date of framing charges in the case…trial commences on framing of charges. Cognizance itself stands stayed.’On the prior complaints filed by the alleged victim’s mother, who is also the complainant in this case, Nagesh argued, “She has been in the habit of filing complaint after complaint against several persons including the top bureaucrats of the state as well as senior police.” He also highlighted several complaints that were filed against family members. He, therefore, said “her grievance in this complaint against the petitioner before your lordship has got to be seen, read or accepted with a pinch of salt.”Story continues below this adBy way of rebuttal, Special Public Prosecutor Ravivarma Kumar said, “All these submissions were made in the first innings where the earlier cognizance was taken, ” referring to the earlier petition before Justice M Nagaprasanna, who had ordered a fresh cognizance to be taken in the Pocso case this February.He added, “There is an express declaration that everything prior to the cognizance is valid. The matter that was remitted was to apply mind and take cognizance.”Among the other arguments raised by Nagesh was the question on the delay in lodging the complaint, as the complainant had met the Commissioner of Police on the same day of the alleged incident.The matter was adjourned after hearing arguments and is set to be heard again on September 2.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd