The Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed YSRCP leader Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy’s petition seeking to quash a POCSO case filed against him. The case pertains to allegations of spreading false information regarding the rape of a minor girl in Tirupati district.
The Tirupati police registered a case against Chevireddy under the POCSO Act, following a complaint by the girl’s father. The police alleged that Chevireddy made unverified statements claiming the minor was sexually assaulted and circulated the same on social media, despite the medical report confirming no evidence of sexual assault.
Background of the Case
The incident involves a 14-year-old girl from Yerravaripalem mandal in Tirupati district. According to the police, the girl initially told her parents that masked assailants attacked her on her way home from school and forced her to consume a sedative.
However, former MLA Chevireddy visited the girl’s school and publicly claimed that she had been raped, assuring support to her family. The police stated that Chevireddy made these statements without verifying the facts, which led to widespread misinformation on social media.
The police clarified that the medical examination ruled out sexual assault. Despite this, the false narrative continued to circulate, prompting the girl’s father to file a complaint.
As the victim is a minor, the police noted that revealing her identity or that of her family members is a violation of the POCSO Act. The girl’s father alleged that the false allegations caused emotional distress to their family, leading to the filing of the case.
Hearing the case on Friday, the High Court dismissed Chevireddy’s petition, allowing the case to proceed.
