POCSO case: Bandi Bhageerath to face Malkajgiri trial court as SIT wraps 3-day custody
Synopsis
The son of a sitting Union Minister of State for Home Affairs is set to face a trial court in a POCSO case — with the SIT citing digital evidence, scene recreation, and a direct contradiction between the minister's 'surrender' claim and the police's account of an admission. The Malkajgiri hearing on Friday marks a critical juncture in one of Hyderabad's most politically sensitive criminal cases.
Key Takeaways
Bandi Bhageerath , son of MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar , will be produced before the Malkajgiri trial court on 29 May after three days of police custody.
A Cyberabad SIT led by DCP Ritiraj has been questioning him at Pet Basheerabad Police Station using digital evidence and witness statements.
The POCSO case was registered on 8 May ; charges were escalated to Section 5(1) read with 6 of the POCSO Act after the DCP spoke with the victim.
Bhageerath was arrested on 16 May after the Telangana High Court refused to grant him interim protection.
Police are reportedly likely to seek an extension of judicial custody based on interrogation findings.
Cyberabad police directly contradicted MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar's claim that his son had surrendered voluntarily.
Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, is set to be produced before the trial court at Malkajgiri on Friday, 29 May, as his three-day police custody in a POCSO case comes to an end. The Cyberabad police have been questioning him at Pet Basheerabad Police Station, where the case was originally registered against him on 8 May.
SIT Interrogation and Evidence Review
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj, has been interrogating Bandi Bhageerath based on statements recorded during the investigation and digital evidence retrieved from his seized mobile phone. Investigators reportedly took him to a farmhouse in Moinabad on the city outskirts for scene recreation and verification of facts linked to the case.
The SIT is understood to be cross-examining Bhageerath against the victim's statement and testimonies gathered from others connected to the case. Data extraction and analysis from his mobile device has also been part of the probe.
Custody Timeline and Court Production
Bhageerath was taken into police custody from Cherlapally Central Prison, where he had been lodged since his arrest on 16 May. His three-day police remand expires on Friday, after which he will be produced before the Malkajgiri trial court in the evening. Based on findings from the interrogation, police are reportedly likely to seek an extension of his judicial custody.
How the Arrest Unfolded
A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Bhageerath on 8 May following allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor girl. The case was initially booked under Section 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After the DCP spoke directly with the victim, police invoked the more serious Section 5(1) read with 6 of the POCSO Act.
Bhageerath was served a notice on 13 May to appear before the investigating officer. He did not comply but sent a letter seeking two additional days. After the Telangana High Court declined to grant him interim protection, he was arrested on the night of 16 May. He was produced before a magistrate the same night and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
Dispute Over Circumstances of Arrest
MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar publicly claimed that his son had surrendered before the police. However, the Cyberabad police stated that Bhageerath admitted to having committed the offence of sexually assaulting a minor girl before being arrested — a direct contradiction of the minister's account.
The case will now proceed to the next judicial stage at Malkajgiri, with the SIT's findings expected to shape the court's decision on further custody.
Point of View
Which carries heavier penalties, signals that the SIT's findings have hardened since the initial FIR. The political sensitivity is compounded by the fact that the accused's father heads the Home portfolio at the Centre, raising questions about institutional insulation for the state-level investigation. How the Malkajgiri court rules on further custody will be a test of whether the judicial process proceeds without political interference — a question the public and opposition parties are watching closely.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POCSO case against Bandi Bhageerath?
A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Bandi Bhageerath on 8 May following allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor girl. The charges were later escalated to Section 5(1) read with 6 of the POCSO Act, along with Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Why is Bandi Bhageerath being produced before the Malkajgiri court?
Bhageerath's three-day police custody expires on 29 May, requiring the Cyberabad police to produce him before the trial court at Malkajgiri. Police are reportedly likely to seek an extension of his judicial custody based on findings from the SIT interrogation.
When and how was Bandi Bhageerath arrested?
He was arrested on the night of 16 May after the Telangana High Court declined to grant him interim protection. He was produced before a magistrate the same night and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days, and was subsequently held at Cherlapally Central Prison.
What did the SIT investigate during the three-day custody?
The SIT questioned Bhageerath based on the victim's statement, testimonies from linked persons, and digital evidence extracted from his seized mobile phone. He was also reportedly taken to a farmhouse in Moinabad for scene recreation and fact verification.
Why is there a dispute between MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar and the Cyberabad police?
MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar publicly claimed his son surrendered before police. The Cyberabad police, however, stated that Bhageerath admitted to the offence before being arrested — directly contradicting the minister's account of the circumstances of the arrest.
