Cyberabad Police on Wednesday, 27 May began interrogating Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a POCSO case involving the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl. A team from Pet Basheerabad Police Station took Bhageerath into custody from Cherlapalli Prison following a trial court order granting three days of police custody.

How the Custody Was Secured

The trial court in Malkajgiri on Tuesday pronounced orders on the police petition, granting three days of custody — less than the week the police had sought. After a medical examination, Bhageerath was shifted to the police station, where Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kukatpally) Ritiraj, who is supervising the investigation, began questioning him based on the victim's statement and evidence collected so far.

Timeline of the Case

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 Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After the investigating officer spoke with the victim, police additionally invoked Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act — provisions that carry more severe penalties.

Bhageerath was served a notice on 13 May directing him to appear before the investigating officer. He did not appear, instead sending a letter seeking two more days. The Telangana High Court subsequently refused to grant him interim protection, following which he was arrested on the night of 16 May.

Dispute Over Arrest or Surrender

There is a contested account of how Bhageerath came into police custody. His father, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, claimed that his son surrendered voluntarily before the police, accompanied by two lawyers. Police, however, stated that Bhageerath admitted to committing the offence of sexually assaulting a minor girl, after which he was formally arrested. He was produced before a magistrate the same night and sent to 14 days of judicial custody.

Investigation Status

Police have already recorded statements from the accused, the victim, her mother, and her friends. The three-day custody period is expected to allow investigators to confront Bhageerath with specific evidence and reconstruct the sequence of events. This is a politically sensitive case given Bhageerath's father holds a cabinet-rank position in the Union government. The outcome of the custody interrogation is likely to determine whether additional charges or accused are added to the case.