Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, was arrested on Saturday night in connection with a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case. He was produced before a magistrate in Hyderabad, which remanded him to judicial custody for two weeks.
According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh, multiple teams were dispatched to track Bhageerath across Karimnagar, Delhi, and other locations, including residences of his acquaintances. A ‘Look Out Circular’ had also been issued against him.
“Based on reliable information that the accused was near the police academy, a naka-bandi (police checkpoint) was organised,” the statement said.
“The Special Operations Team apprehended Bhageerath near Tech Park at Manchirevula under Narsingi Police Station limits at 8:15 pm on May 16 and took him into custody, shifting him to Petbasheerbad Police Station.”
Bhageerath was examined by the investigating officer in the presence of panch witnesses (unbiased citizens).
“The accused admitted to having committed the offence, and hence was formally arrested,” the police statement added. Following a medical examination, he was presented before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody for two weeks.
Earlier police issued the ‘Look Out’ notice for Bhageerath after recording the statements of the alleged victim (17) and her mother, who is the complainant in the case. According to police, the statements were recorded to ensure that accounts are reliably documented and to prevent individuals from changing their testimonies during trial.
Meanwhile, Bandi Sanjay said he had asked his son to appear before the police and cooperate with the investigation.
"Satya Meva Jayate. With utmost respect for the law and judiciary, today my son Bandi Bageerath went before the Telangana Police through our advocates for investigation," he said in a post on X.
The arrest of the Union minister’s son came a day after the Telangana High Court on Friday refused to grant him interim protection from arrest.
Hearing Bhageerath’s anticipatory bail plea late into the night, Justice T. Madhavi Devi said she was not inclined to pass any interim order at this stage.
The case stems from a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, alleging that Bhageerath was in a relationship with her daughter and had sexually harassed her. Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR against him on May 8 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act.
Bhageerath has also filed a counter complaint with police in Karimnagar, alleging that the girl’s family attempted to extort Rs 5 crore by threatening to implicate him in a false case.
