Union Minister's Son in Police Custody Amid POCSO Allegations: What You Need to Know

Court Grants Police Custody in POCSO Case

In a significant development, a local court in Hyderabad has granted police two days of custody for Bageerath, the son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in relation to a POCSO case. The police had initially requested three days, but the court approved a shorter duration starting from May 27.

Bageerath was taken into custody on the evening of May 16 and has since been held at Cherlapally Central Prison after a magistrate remanded him to judicial custody. The Telangana High Court previously denied his request for interim protection against arrest.

The case was initiated on May 8 at the Petbasheerabad police station, following a complaint from the mother of a 17-year-old girl. She accused Bageerath of being in a relationship with her daughter and of sexually harassing her.

After the girl's statement was recorded, more serious charges under the BNS and POCSO Act were added.

In response, Bageerath filed a counter-complaint, claiming that the girl had approached him and invited him to family events and gatherings. He stated that he trusted her family and joined them on visits to religious sites as part of a group.

Bageerath further alleged that after he declined to marry the girl, her family pressured him for money and threatened to file false accusations against him if he refused.