HYDERABAD: Conflicting claims emerged on Sunday regarding the arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son, Bandi Sai Bageerath, in a POCSO case. The Cyberabad police stated that he was apprehended during a naka bandi operation, while his lawyers insisted that he had voluntarily surrendered.
Arrest and Remand Details
Bageerath, who has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations of sexual abuse made by a minor girl's family, was remanded to judicial custody till May 29 after being produced before a magistrate.
In a press release, Cyberabad police said that based on reliable information, the Special Operations Team (SOT) intercepted Bageerath near Tech Park at Manchirevula under Narsingi police station limits at around 8:15 pm on May 16. The accused admitted to having committed the offense, leading to his arrest. After a medical examination, he was produced before the magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.
Case Background and Charges
The case was registered at Petbasheerabad police station on May 8. It was strengthened after the victim's statement was recorded before a magistrate under Section 183 of the BNSS. Based on her account, investigators added Section 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act. According to police, Bageerath had evaded arrest after the enhanced charges were invoked, prompting searches across multiple cities, including Karimnagar and Delhi. A look-out circular was also issued against him.
Lawyers' Version of Events
However, Bageerath's counsel, advocate Karunasagar, disputed the police version and claimed that the accused had voluntarily surrendered. He stated, I, along with Anthony Reddy, Senior Advocate, have surrendered Bandi Bhageerath to the police at about 8:15 pm near Tech Park. The police have taken the custody of Bandi Bhageerath. We have cooperated with the investigation. Bandi Bhageerath has given all the information and has readily agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
Dismissing allegations that Bageerath was absconding, Karunasagar added, We have surrendered ourselves voluntarily to the police. I don't think we need to give any explanation regarding the same. The defense also expressed confidence that Bageerath would be cleared of the allegations. We have full confidence in the investigation and judicial procedure. We are very confident that we will be cleared of these allegations and we will come out clean.
Earlier Legal Proceedings
A day after the Telangana High Court refused interim protection from arrest to Bageerath, police intensified efforts to trace him and conducted searches at multiple locations, including the official residence of Bandi Sanjay in New Delhi.
Union Minister's Statement
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that his son had joined the investigation in accordance with the law. In a post on X, he wrote, Satya Meva Jayate. With utmost respect for the law and judiciary, today my son Bandi Bhageerath went before the Telangana Police through our advocates for investigation. I have said this before too: whether it is my own son or a common citizen, everyone is equal before the law. My son has consistently maintained that he has committed no mistake.
The minister added that the delay in his son appearing before police was due to legal advice seeking bail and quashing of the case.
Complaint and Counter-Complaint
The case stems from a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, alleging that Bageerath entered into a relationship with her daughter on the promise of marriage and sexually harassed her between October 2025 and January 2026. Police said the victim and her parents recorded their statements before a magistrate in Medchal district court on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bageerath has filed a counter-complaint alleging that the girl's family attempted to extort Rs 5 crore from him and threatened to implicate him in a false case if he refused to marry her.
