Bandi Sanjay's son gets HC nod to seek regular bail in POCSO case
Synopsis
The son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has been in Cherlapally jail since 16 May on POCSO charges — and the Telangana High Court has now cleared the path for a regular bail hearing. With aggravated POCSO provisions invoked after the victim's statement, the bail battle ahead will be a significant legal test for a politically prominent family.
Key Takeaways
The Telangana High Court on 21 May permitted Bandi Bhageerath to file a regular bail petition in a POCSO case.
Bhageerath is the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar .
He was arrested on 16 May and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody; he is lodged in Cherlapally jail .
The POCSO case was registered on 8 May at Pet Basheerabad Police Station for alleged sexual assault of a minor.
Police later added aggravated provisions — Section 5(1) read with 6 of the POCSO Act — after recording the victim's statement.
Bhageerath's anticipatory bail petition was withdrawn on Thursday as it had been rendered infructuous by his arrest.
The Telangana High Court on Thursday, 21 May permitted Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, to file a regular bail petition in a POCSO case registered against him for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl. The court's order came after Bhageerath's counsel withdrew an earlier anticipatory bail petition, given that the accused had already been arrested on 16 May.
Background of the Case
A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Bhageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on 8 May, following allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor girl. The initial FIR was filed under Section 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
After the investigating officer recorded the victim's statement, police invoked harsher provisions, adding Section 5(1) read with 6 of the POCSO Act to the FIR — provisions that carry significantly more severe penalties.
Arrest and Remand
Bhageerath was served a notice directing him to appear before the investigating officer on 13 May. He did not comply but sent a letter requesting two additional days. On 15 May, the High Court declined to grant him interim protection from arrest, reserving orders on the anticipatory bail petition.
He was arrested by police on the night of 16 May. His father, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, however, claimed that his son had voluntarily surrendered before the police, accompanied by two lawyers. Police stated that Bhageerath admitted to having committed the offence, following which he was formally arrested. He was produced before a magistrate the same night and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. He is currently lodged in Cherlapally jail.
Thursday's Court Proceedings
The High Court had been scheduled to pronounce orders on the anticipatory bail petition on Thursday. However, on the request of Bhageerath's counsel Karuna Sagar, the court allowed the withdrawal of the anticipatory bail petition — a procedural step made necessary by the arrest — and granted permission to file a regular bail petition instead.
What Comes Next
With the regular bail petition now cleared for filing, the case moves to its next legal phase. Given the severity of the charges — particularly the aggravated POCSO provisions invoked after the victim's statement — bail is unlikely to be straightforward. The case has drawn significant public attention owing to the accused's political lineage, and the outcome of the bail hearing will be closely watched.
Point of View
And it has received far less attention than the political identity of the accused's father. Section 6 carries a minimum sentence of 20 years. That the High Court had already refused interim protection before the arrest signals judicial reluctance to shield the accused from process. The regular bail hearing will test whether the court treats this as any other aggravated POCSO matter — which the law demands — or whether proximity to political power shapes the pace and outcome of proceedings. India's POCSO courts are already overburdened; high-profile cases that attract legal resources and media scrutiny can distort timelines for less visible victims in the same system.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POCSO case against Bandi Bhageerath?
A POCSO case was registered against Bandi Bhageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on 8 May for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl. Police later invoked aggravated provisions under Section 5(1) read with 6 of the POCSO Act after recording the victim's statement.
When was Bandi Bhageerath arrested?
Bandi Bhageerath was arrested by police on the night of 16 May, after the Telangana High Court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest. He was produced before a magistrate the same night and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
What did the Telangana High Court order on 21 May?
The High Court on 21 May allowed Bhageerath's counsel to withdraw the anticipatory bail petition — which had become infructuous after his arrest — and granted permission to file a regular bail petition instead.
Where is Bandi Bhageerath currently held?
Bandi Bhageerath is currently lodged in Cherlapally jail in Hyderabad, following his remand to 14 days of judicial custody by a magistrate on the night of 16 May.
What is the significance of the upgraded POCSO charges?
Police initially registered the case under Section 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act, which covers sexual harassment. After recording the victim's statement, they added Section 5(1) read with 6, which pertains to aggravated penetrative sexual assault and carries a minimum sentence of 20 years under Indian law.
