Hyderabad Court Grants Interim Bail to Minister's Son in POCSO Case

Interim Bail Granted in POCSO Case

In a special court in Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, an interim bail of seven days has been granted to Bandisai Bhagirath, the son of Union Minister Bandisanjay, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The allegations against him stem from a case registered at the Bashir Bagh police station. Sources indicate that the court provided this temporary relief to allow Bhagirath to participate in his final examinations. This interim bail is subject to conditions set by the court.

Previously, Bandisai Bhagirath was remanded to judicial custody until May 29 in connection with the alleged POCSO case.

Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments

In response to the police's request, Bhagirath's attorney strongly opposed the application and filed a detailed counter-petition seeking its immediate dismissal. According to a press note, the defense argued that if the court considers allowing police custody, it should implement appropriate safety measures and protective directives as per the Telangana High Court's instructions in Criminal Revision Petition No. 165/2022. The lawyer requested that any questioning be conducted between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM, with Bhagirath returned to the Cherlapalli Central Jail by 7:00 PM each day.

Additional safety measures requested included a medical examination of the accused by jail medical officers before and after questioning. The lawyer also asked for Bhagirath to be presented before the relevant court immediately after the questioning or on a date determined by the court.

Court's Decision and Next Steps

After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court reserved its order, scheduling the next hearing for May 26. According to Bhagirath's lawyer, Advocate Karunasagar, he surrendered to the police, which initiated the standard investigative procedures.