The mother of the minor girl in the POCSO case involving Bandi Sai Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has issued an emotional statement alleging intimidation, social humiliation and institutional apathy while pursuing justice for her daughter.
In a five-page statement issued on May 14, the mother said that her daughter was subjected to emotional manipulation and sexual exploitation by Bhageerath, while the family later faced pressure, delays in police action and online attacks aimed at discrediting the victim.
The case has triggered political controversy in Telangana. The police have added the stringent Sections 5(l) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which deal with aggravated penetrative sexual assault and carry severe punishment upon conviction, only after initial hesitation.
The mother further alleged that one of the assaults took place in a Moinabad farmhouse during the night of December 31, 2025, and in the early hours of January 1, 2026. According to the statement, the girl was allegedly forced to consume alcohol before being assaulted while in a semi-conscious condition.
The mother explained that the family initially attempted to address the matter legally during March and April 2026.
However, after being contacted by an intermediary identified as Sangappa, they allegedly visited the residence of Bandi Sanjay on April 23 hoping for support and protection. Instead, the family allegedly faced intimidation.
The statement claimed that the minister warned the family about his political influence and support base, leaving them frightened and hesitant about pursuing the complaint further. No public response from Bandi Sanjay or his family was immediately available regarding these allegations.
The mother also accused the police of delaying action after the family approached the Pet Basheerabad police station on May 8 seeking registration of a case under the POCSO Act. According to her, the family was made to wait for more than five hours before a Zero FIR was registered.
The handling of the case has also drawn criticism from Opposition leaders. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) general secretary and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar alleged that the victim’s family faced harassment and that the police had initially invoked only bailable sections before later adding the stronger POCSO provisions. He also alleged that the Karimnagar police had registered a counter-case based on a complaint filed by Bhageerath.
Under the law, a Zero FIR allows a police station to register a complaint irrespective of jurisdiction so that immediate legal action is not delayed. Such FIRs are later transferred to the appropriate police station for investigation.
The mother alleged that attempts were now being made to undermine the case by questioning the victim’s age and circulating material on social media capable of revealing the identity of the minor.
She said the family was facing “whispers, judgment and character assassination” online while social media influencers and political supporters questioned the credibility of the complaint.
“This pain is compounded by a systemic struggle that turned the victims into accused persons,” the mother said in the statement, referring to allegations of extortion and blackmail levelled against the family. She described the emotional impact on her daughter as “a nightmare beyond description”, and said the family was now living in constant fear.
The mother also pointed out that her daughter had become emotionally shattered after repeatedly reliving the alleged abuse while interacting with police and lawyers. She also alleged that despite the addition of graver POCSO charges, the accused had not been arrested after a week from filing the complaint, which continued to cause distress to the family.
The POCSO Act prohibits disclosure of the identity of child victims and bars publication of any details that could reveal their identity. Violations can attract legal action.
Appealing for privacy and protection, the mother urged authorities and the public to ensure dignity for her daughter and to allow the investigation to proceed without political pressure or social targeting.