Protests Errupt at Petbasheerabad PS; Demand for Arrest of Bandi Sanjay’s Son in POCSO Case
Hyderabad: A large number of women, along with the victim’s family members, protested outside Petbasheerabad police station on Sunday, demanding the arrest of Union minister Bandi Sanjay’s son Bandi Sai Bageerath in the Pocso Act case filed against him. Some of the women demanded that the police explain the delay in catching the suspect. The protesters also shouted slogans urging Sanjay to resign from the Union ministry.
The case against Bageerath was registered on the night of May 8 following a complaint by the mother of the 17-year-old victim, who alleged that Bageerath had sexually assaulted the minor at a farmhouse in Moinabad on December 31.
According to the first information report (FIR), Bageerath allegedly invited the girl to his farmhouse where his friends, including five boys and two girls, were present. The complaint alleged that she was pressured to drink alcohol despite her resistance, and that between 1.30 and 2.30 in the morning, Bhageerath entered her room in a drunken state and sexually assaulted her.
The complaint also cited subsequent digital communications between the two, alleging that the defendant apologized repeatedly to the girl and acknowledged causing her emotional distress and harm. The girl’s family also claimed that the child attempted suicide twice on January 19 and January 26 due to severe emotional trauma.
Allegedly, after the family started taking legal action on the issue, they faced pressure and attempts to deter them. Hours before the Pocso case was registered, Bageerath filed a separate complaint at Karimnagar Town-I police station alleging that he was being blackmailed and harassed by the girl’s family.
“We have registered a case and the statement of the victim will be recorded. The cases (filed by the victim and Bageerath) are being investigated separately and we will take appropriate action as per the law soon,” said a police officer.
In a statement, Sanjay said today: “Some people drag children and family members into politics before they can confront me.” He said this was evidence of the desperation of those who did not have the courage to fight him politically. Referring to the allegations against his son Sanjay in his post on X, he said: “I have respect for the law, I have full faith in the judiciary. I will abide by the Constitution of India until the end of my life.” He claimed that “some forces” could not stomach the elevation of a man from the Backward Caste community to the rank of Union minister from a joint family.
