Hyderabad: Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, approached the Telangana High Court on Tuesday seeking anticipatory bail in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case. The case was registered against him for allegedly sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl. The petition is expected to be heard by the vacation bench shortly.
Bageerath's Contentions
In his petition, Bageerath argued that the girl was 18 years old at the time of the alleged incidents. He claimed that the allegations were false and motivated by disputes between him and the survivor's family. Referring to a previous charge sheet filed in 2021 in an underage driving case, Bageerath said the girl's age was then recorded as 15 years, making her 19 or 20 now. He alleged that her age was wrongly shown as 17 in the present complaint to invoke POCSO provisions.
Allegations of Extortion
Bageerath further alleged that the girl's parents, noticing his closeness to their daughter and knowing his political background, attempted to extort Rs 5 crore from him. He claimed they threatened that the girl would commit suicide if he did not pay. He stated that he had earlier lodged complaints against the family over extortion demands and threats of implication.
Consensual Relationship Claim
Bageerath argued that his relationship with the girl was consensual and continued for a considerable period without any complaint. He alleged that even after the girl's family became aware of the relationship in January 2026, no police complaint was filed immediately. The case was lodged only in May after disputes arose between them. He claimed the FIR was a retaliatory measure and sought protection from arrest.
