Bandi Sanjay’s Son Seeks Two-Day Time from Police in POCSO Case

Hyderabad, May 2026 : Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, did not appear before the police for questioning on Wednesday in connection with a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case registered against him. Instead, he sought two days’ time from investigators to make himself available for questioning.

Bhageerath had been directed by the Pet Basheerabad Police Station in Hyderabad to appear before the Station House Officer (SHO) at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Police had served a formal notice to him on Tuesday as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual assault made by a 17-year-old girl.

In response, Bhageerath sent a written communication to the SHO acknowledging receipt of the notice and expressing willingness to cooperate with the investigation. However, he stated that due to the short notice period and certain personal inconveniences, he was unable to appear before the police on the scheduled date.

In the letter, Bhageerath requested a “short accommodation” of two days to enable him to collect documents, material, and information which, according to him, would help in addressing what he described as “false allegations” made against him and his family.

“I most respectfully request a short accommodation of two days from the date appointed in the notice so as to enable me to collate the relevant material, documents and information in my possession that would meaningfully aid the investigation,” the letter stated.

The case against Bhageerath was registered on May 8 at Pet Basheerabad Police Station after a minor girl accused him of sexually assaulting her at a farmhouse in Moinabad on multiple occasions. Initially, the police booked the accused under Section 11 read with Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The investigation intensified after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reportedly directed Director General of Police C.V. Anand earlier this week to ensure a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations.

Subsequently, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj was appointed to supervise the probe. The officer met the victim on Tuesday and reportedly recorded additional details related to the allegations.

Following further examination of the complaint, police invoked stricter provisions under the POCSO Act. Section 5(l) read with Section 6, which pertains to aggravated penetrative sexual assault, was added to the FIR. The offence carries severe punishment, including imprisonment that may extend up to 20 years or more.

Meanwhile, Bhageerath has also lodged a counter-complaint in Karimnagar, alleging that the girl’s family attempted to extort Rs 5 crore from him by threatening to implicate him in a false criminal case.

Police on Tuesday reportedly served notices to Bhageerath’s maternal uncle in Karimnagar, directing the accused to appear before investigators on May 13. Officials also warned that failure to comply with the notice could lead to legal consequences.

The developments have triggered political reactions as well. BRS general secretary and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar questioned the police procedure in the case and criticised the manner in which notices were served.

He asked why notices were issued to Bhageerath’s maternal uncle instead of directly to Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who, according to him, was publicly speaking about the case in Karimnagar on Tuesday evening.

Praveen Kumar also questioned the necessity of issuing notices to an accused person in a serious POCSO case instead of taking stronger procedural action. “The DGP must explain under what legal provision such notices are being issued in a case involving allegations of repeated sexual assault on a minor,” he said.

Bhageerath, 25, has meanwhile approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail. A vacation bench of the High Court is scheduled to hear his petition on Thursday.

The case has attracted widespread political and public attention in Telangana due to the serious nature of the allegations and the involvement of the family of a senior Union Minister.