Karnataka BJP Leader Faces Legal Action for Disclosing Pocso Victim's Details
Former Karnataka minister and BJP leader B Sriramulu now faces serious legal trouble. The Karnataka Police registered a First Information Report against him on Monday. They booked him for allegedly revealing the identity of a minor rape victim.
What Happened During the Ballari Protest?
B Sriramulu made the controversial remarks during a protest in Ballari on Saturday. The BJP organized this demonstration following a violent clash between supporters of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and BJP MLA Janardhan Reddy. That earlier clash resulted in the death of a Congress worker on New Year's Day.
During his address at the protest, Sriramulu launched a strong attack against the local administration and police. He then claimed that Ballari was becoming a hub for drug-related activities. While making this allegation, he cited a specific case of a girl who was allegedly drugged and raped.
The Serious Violation of Pocso Act
The former MLA went much further than just mentioning the case. He reportedly disclosed multiple identifying details about the minor victim. According to reports, he mentioned the girl's name, the school she attended, the locality where she lived, and even her caste.
Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act strictly prohibits revealing any information that could identify a child victim. This includes the child's name, address, photograph, family details, school, or neighborhood. Violating this provision is a cognizable offence that carries serious legal consequences.
Police Take Immediate Action
Police officials present at the protest venue took swift action. They registered a suo motu complaint based on what they witnessed. The Women and Child Police Station in Ballari filed the FIR against the BJP leader.
A police source confirmed the seriousness of the violation. "Revealing the identity of a Pocso victim is a cognizable offence," the source stated. "Based on the complaint from a police staff member who was present at the protest, we registered the FIR."
The police action demonstrates their commitment to enforcing child protection laws strictly. Even political figures are not exempt from legal consequences when they violate these crucial safeguards for minors.
