Telangana High Court on Thursday deferred the hearing of the anticipatory bail petition filed by Bandi Bhageerath, son of Bandi Sanjay Kumar, minister of state for home, in connection with a POCSO case, to May 15.
Representing Bhageerath, senior advocate S. Niranjan Reddy argued that the victim was no minor and the POCSO provisions were not applicable in this case and requested anticipatory bail for Bhageerath.
Justice Madhavi Devi said she could not decide on the pre-bail application without hearing from the victim. She ordered the police to conduct an age verification of the victim on Friday. The police, who have been quite slow ever since the case was filed, did not conduct an age test despite a dispute cropping up about the victim's age.
Telangana police, which has a women safety wing, have failed to take the right decision at the right time from the beginning, since the accused is the son of a Union minister. A section on social media started questioning the viability of POCSO provisions in this case. Some influencers were seen parroting the same script. Several photos and videos of the victims and their families were being circulated, questioning their motives.
Several BJP-aligned social media personalities started questioning the motives of the girl and her family. The BJP and most Congress leaders have remained silent on the issue, while the opposition, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, has made it a major issue. BRS general secretary questioned why the police did not even serve notice at Bandi Sanjay Kumar's residence. They have handed over a notice to Bhageerath's uncle.
Bagheerath, in his reply to the notice on May 13, said that he could attend police questioning in two days. Police rejected his demand and made it clear that he needed to surrender immediately. However, they may not arrest him until the High Court passes an order.
