BENGALURU: A woman who had accused BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa of sexually abusing her 17-year-old daughter died at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday night. The woman, a cancer patient, was admitted to the hospital after experiencing breathing issues, according to police reports.
On March 14, the woman had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. She alleged that her minor daughter was sexually abused during a visit to Yediyurappa’s residence on February 2, where they had gone seeking assistance in a rape case involving a relative. The daughter had reportedly been raped by a relative in 2015, and the case is currently in trial.
Yediyurappa has denied all allegations. The Karnataka government has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the case. So far, the CID has recorded the statements of both the victim and her mother under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
A police officer stated that the woman passed away while doctors were preparing to treat her in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She is survived by her daughter, who is a rape victim, and a son. The woman had separated from her husband, who reportedly did not support her in pursuing the case. She had previously been diagnosed with lung cancer and was undergoing treatment.
