However, it directed the special court not to insist on the appearance of the Bharatiya Janata Party leader during the trial unless “his presence is essential”.

It also clarified that he is free to seek discharge before the trial court.

The case against Yediyurappa was registered on March 14, 2024, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for allegedly assaulting a minor girl, who is a rape survivor in a separate case from 2015. The 82-year-old leader is accused of having assaulted the girl on February 2, 2024, when she and her mother met him to seek help in the 2015 rape case.

The bench dismissed the petition as “premature”.

It pointed out that Karnataka’s detailed project report was still under consideration by experts in the Cauvery Water Management Authority and th

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