Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Cyberabad Police have revised the charges against Sai Bhageerath, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, just hours before he moved the Telangana High Court seeking bail. The police invoked stricter provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in an alleged case of sexual assault involving a minor girl.
Change in Charges
A notice was served to Bhageerath's maternal uncle in Karimnagar, directing him to appear before investigators. Initially, based on a complaint filed by the survivor's mother, the Petbasheerabad police registered a case under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 11 of the POCSO Act. These provisions carry a maximum punishment of up to three years imprisonment or a fine.
However, investigators later altered the charges after recording the survivor's statement. Police officials confirmed that the case was revised to Section 5(i) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault. This offence carries a punishment that may extend up to 20 years imprisonment or more, depending on the severity of the crime.
Timeline of Events
According to officials, the change in sections was made on Monday night after a thorough assessment of the survivor's statement, which was given at the time of lodging the complaint on Friday. The revised charges were subsequently communicated to the concerned court on Tuesday.
Cyberabad police top brass appointed DCP (Kukatpally Zone) Ritiraj as the supervising officer for the investigation. The officer spoke with the survivor and her mother on Tuesday as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Notice to Appear
Bhageerath has been directed to appear before the investigating officer at 2 pm on Wednesday. Police have warned that failure to comply with the notice will invite legal action.
Background of the Case
As per the complaint, the minor girl alleged that Bhageerath sexually assaulted her during a visit to a farmhouse in Moinabad, claiming he had promised to marry her. In a parallel development, the accused has also lodged a counter-complaint alleging that the survivor's family attempted to extort Rs 5 crore by threatening to implicate him in a false case.
