The Telangana High Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday an interim anticipatory bail plea filed by Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The case accuses Bageerath of misbehaving with and sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl. The matter will be heard by Justice T Madhavi Devi on the vacation bench.
Bageerath's Arguments
In his petition, the 23-year-old Bageerath contended that the girl was not a minor at the time of the alleged incidents. He asserted that the accusations were false and motivated by personal disputes between the two families. Bageerath stated that the relationship was consensual and had continued for a long period without any complaint from the girl or her family.
He further argued that although the girl's family allegedly knew about the relationship in January 2026, they filed the police complaint only in May 2026 after disputes arose. Bageerath also mentioned that he had previously lodged a complaint against the girl's family over alleged extortion demands and threats of false implication, calling the current FIR a retaliatory move.
Legal Context
The Pocso Act is a stringent law designed to protect children from sexual offences. Anticipatory bail in such cases is rarely granted, but the court will consider the merits of the petition. The High Court's decision is awaited, given the high-profile nature of the case involving a Union minister's son.
