Hyderabad: Bandi Bageerath, the 23-year-old son of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Friday night for allegedly misbehaving with and sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl. Simultaneously, the Karimnagar II Town police registered a case against the girl and her parents based on a complaint from Bageerath, who claimed that the girl's family attempted to honey-trap him and demanded Rs 5 crore to refrain from filing a false police complaint.
First Complaint by Girl's Mother
Late on Friday night, the mother of the 17-year-old girl approached the Pet Basheerabad police, alleging that Bageerath had been harassing her daughter for over six months and had misbehaved with her at a farmhouse in Moinabad. The complainant stated that the girl came into contact with Bageerath through common friends in Hyderabad, and the accused became intimate with her by falsely claiming that he wanted to marry her. Based on this complaint, the Pet Basheerabad police registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11 (sexual harassment) of the Pocso Act against Bageerath.
Counter Complaint by Bageerath
On Friday, Bageerath approached the Karimnagar II Town police, alleging that he had met the girl several months ago and was invited to family gatherings and pilgrimages as a friend. "Believing them to be trustworthy, I accompanied them to pilgrim places. Subsequently, her parents threatened me to marry her, but I refused. The girl and her parents demanded money and also threatened to file a false criminal complaint against me with allegations of harassment and having a physical relationship (with a minor). Feeling scared, I gave the girl's father Rs 50,000 but they demanded Rs 5 crore and threatened me that otherwise the girl would commit suicide (if I didn't pay up)," Bageerath alleged. On his complaint, a case was booked against the girl and her parents under Sections 308 (5) (extortion), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy) read with 3 (5) (common intention) of the BNS on Friday evening.
Police Investigation Underway
Police officials have yet to summon the accused in either case. In the Pet Basheerabad case, officials stated that they would record the statement of the girl and she may also be sent for a medical examination. Karimnagar II Town police said they were conducting a preliminary probe and, based on the evidence gathered, appropriate action would be initiated.
