Telangana HC Grants Bail to Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Son in POCSO Case

The Telangana high court on Thursday granted regular bail to Bandi Bhagirath, the 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 court directed Bhagirath to furnish a bond of Rs 1 lakh along with two sureties and comply with other conditions while out on bail.

The development comes nearly four months after Bhagirath was arrested in May in connection with the case. He was later granted interim bail until June 25 to enable him to appear for his BBA examinations.

The case was registered on May 8 at Petbasheerabad police station based on a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl.

According to the complaint, Bhagirath was in a relationship with the minor and allegedly subjected her to sexual harassment. After police recorded the girl's statement, more serious provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act were added to the case.

Bhagirath was taken into custody on the night of May 16 after the Telangana high court declined to grant him interim protection from arrest. Police maintained that he was apprehended on the outskirts of Hyderabad, while his lawyers claimed he had voluntarily surrendered and cooperated with the investigation.

Following his arrest, a magistrate remanded him to judicial custody.

Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar had then said that his son had appeared before the police in accordance with the law and stressed that 'everyone is equal before the law.'

Bhagirath has denied all allegations against him and filed a counter-complaint, alleging that the girl and her family pressured him to marry her and later demanded money after he refused. According to his complaint, the family threatened to implicate him in a false case if he did not comply. He also alleged that he had paid Rs 50,000 out of fear and that the family later demanded Rs 5 crore.

Police subsequently registered an FIR based on his complaint as well.

The allegations and counter-allegations remain under investigation.