Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son, Bandi Sai Bhageerath, was remanded to judicial custody till May 29 after surrendering before the Telangana police in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to reports, Bhageerath appeared before investigators on Saturday evening after the Telangana High Court declined to grant him interim protection from arrest in the case. The court had reserved orders on his anticipatory bail plea until May 21, according to reports.
His counsel said Bhageerath had cooperated with the investigation and maintained that he was innocent. Advocate Karunasagar was quoted as saying that the legal team was confident he would “come out clean” through the judicial process. “Bhagirath was not arrested… He himself appeared for police questioning Bhagirath went to Pet Basheerabad Police Station in the presence of two lawyers,” the minister wrote on X.
The case pertains to allegations made by the family of a minor girl, who accused Bhageerath of sexual assault and harassment. Police later invoked stricter provisions of the POCSO Act, including aggravated assault charges, after recording the survivor’s statement.
The minister has also asserted that there had been “no wrongdoing” from their side and expressed faith in the legal process.
The matter has triggered significant political attention in Telangana due to Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s position in the Union government and his prominence within the BJP.
