Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, May 17: Cyberabad Police have arrested Bandi Sai Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl. According to police officials, the accused reportedly confessed to the offence during questioning before being produced before a Magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody for two weeks.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh, in an official statement issued late Saturday night, said that a case was initially registered at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on May 8 following a complaint lodged by the victim.
During the investigation, statements from the victim and several witnesses were collected by the Investigating Officer. Based on the victim’s testimony, additional charges were invoked under Section 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Sections 5(l) and 6 of the POCSO Act.
The investigation was placed under the supervision of Kukatpally Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj. Police also obtained the victim’s statement recorded before a Magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
To trace the accused, multiple police teams were deployed to different locations including Karimnagar and Delhi. Authorities also conducted searches at residences linked to his acquaintances and issued a Look Out Circular as part of the manhunt.
Police said credible intelligence later indicated that the accused was moving near the Police Academy area, following which special naka-bandi operations were conducted. Acting on specific inputs, the Cyberabad Special Operations Team apprehended Bhageerath near a tech park in Manchirevula under the Narsingi Police Station limits at around 8:15 p.m. on May 16.
After being taken into custody and shifted to Pet Basheerabad Police Station, the accused was questioned in the presence of panch witnesses. Police stated that he admitted to the offence during interrogation, following which he was formally arrested.
Subsequently, after completion of medical procedures, Bhageerath was presented before the Magistrate and remanded to judicial custody pending further investigation.