The Supreme Court of India (SC) on Tuesday issued an interim stay on the trial proceedings against former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) after his petition challenged the refusal of the Karnataka High Court to quash the case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the interim order, directing that while notice is issued to the State government, the trial remains stayed for the time being.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the Former CM and argued that the High Court had ignored “key evidence” and overlooked statements suggesting that “nothing as such happened,” claiming the charges were based on a politically motivated and flawed complaint. However, Chief Justice Kant questioned the notion of compelling the High Court to conduct what he termed a “mini trial” at the quashing stage.