Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, May 21: The Telangana High Court on Thursday permitted Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, to file a regular bail petition in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The court allowed Bhageerath’s counsel to withdraw the anticipatory bail plea after noting that he had already been arrested by police on May 16.
Earlier, on May 15, the High Court had declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Bhageerath while reserving its order on his anticipatory bail petition. When the matter came up again on Thursday, his counsel Karuna Sagar requested permission to withdraw the plea and seek regular bail instead.
The court accepted the request and granted liberty to move a regular bail application.
A case was registered against Bhageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on May 8 following allegations of sexual assault involving a minor girl.
Initially, the FIR included provisions under Sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), along with Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police later invoked stricter sections after recording the victim’s statement, adding Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act to the case.
Investigators had issued a notice directing Bhageerath to appear before the investigating officer on May 13. However, he reportedly sought additional time through a written communication and did not appear on the scheduled date.
Following the High Court’s refusal to grant interim relief, police arrested him on the night of May 16.
While police described the action as an arrest after questioning, Bandi Sanjay claimed that his son had voluntarily surrendered before authorities in the presence of legal representatives.
Police officials stated that Bhageerath allegedly admitted to the offence during questioning, following which he was formally arrested.
He was produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. He is currently lodged at Cherlapally Central Jail.