Bandi Sanjay claims he handed son to police in POCSO case, Cyberabad cops say they arrested him
Synopsis
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar insists he voluntarily handed his son to police in a POCSO case — but Cyberabad Police say they made the arrest themselves at Narsingi on 16 May. The contradiction at the heart of his public defence is now the story, as opposition parties call for his dismissal and his son remains in 14-day judicial custody.
Key Takeaways
MoS Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar claimed on 20 May that he personally handed his son Bandi Bhageerath to police in a POCSO case.
Cyberabad Police say they arrested Bhageerath at Narsingi on the night of 16 May ; he was remanded to 14-day judicial custody .
A POCSO case was first registered at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on 8 May ; harsher provisions under Section 5(1) r/w 6 were later added after the victim was interviewed.
The Telangana High Court refused to grant Bhageerath interim protection from arrest on 15 May .
Bandi Sanjay dismissed opposition demands for his dismissal and denied reports that he plans to launch a new political party.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday, 20 May again asserted that he personally handed over his son Bandi Bhageerath to the police in connection with a POCSO case, even as Cyberabad Police maintained that they arrested Bhageerath at Narsingi on the night of 16 May. The contradictory accounts have drawn sharp scrutiny amid opposition demands for the minister's dismissal.
What Bandi Sanjay Said
Addressing media persons at the Telangana BJP state office in Hyderabad — his first visit to the office since his son's arrest — Bandi Sanjay said he acted immediately upon receiving information about the case. 'Have you ever seen a father handing over his own son to the police?' he asked, framing the gesture as one of personal integrity and cooperation with the law.
It was also the minister's first public appearance at the party office since the controversy erupted, and he was welcomed by party workers and supporters.
What Police Records Show
Cyberabad Police's account directly contradicts the minister's claim. According to police, Bhageerath was arrested at Narsingi on the night of 16 May and subsequently produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.
The sequence of events, according to investigators, is as follows: a case was first registered against Bhageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on 8 May under Section 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following an allegation that he sexually assaulted a minor girl. After further investigation, including speaking with the victim, police invoked harsher provisions — Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act — and added them to the FIR.
Bhageerath was served a notice to appear before the investigating officer on 13 May. He did not comply, instead sending a letter requesting two additional days. The Telangana High Court on 15 May declined to grant him interim protection from arrest. Police subsequently arrested him and stated that he admitted to the offence.
Opposition Demands and Political Response
When reporters pressed Bandi Sanjay on calls from opposition parties for his removal from the Union Cabinet, he deflected by targeting the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). 'KCR's party has not a single MP in the Lok Sabha. Sitting in his farmhouse, he speaks something,' the minister said, referring to former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
He also took aim at BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, alleging that 'KTR runs a fake social media factory,' and accused the party of spreading 'false propaganda' against him following the collapse of what he called KCR's 'corrupt empire.'
Rumours of New Party Dismissed
Bandi Sanjay also flatly denied reports that he is considering floating a new political outfit. 'Everyone in the BJP is a disciplined worker,' he said, adding that a committed party worker's last wish would be to have his body draped in the BJP flag. The remarks appeared aimed at quashing speculation about any rift between him and the party leadership amid the ongoing controversy.
With Bhageerath in judicial custody and the POCSO case proceeding, the political and legal fallout for the minister is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
Point of View
And that gap is not a minor detail. In a POCSO case involving a minor, the sequence of events matters legally and politically. Bhageerath skipped a police notice, sought High Court protection, was denied, and was then arrested — that is not the arc of a cooperative surrender. Bandi Sanjay's pivot to attacking BRS and KTR suggests his political strategy is to change the subject rather than address the contradiction. As long as the factual dispute between his version and the police record remains unresolved, his position as a Union Home Ministry official will face legitimate scrutiny.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POCSO case against Bandi Bhageerath?
A case was registered against Bandi Bhageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on 8 May under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, alleging he sexually assaulted a minor girl. Police later added harsher provisions — Section 5(1) read with Section 6 — after speaking with the victim.
Did Bandi Sanjay hand over his son to police or was he arrested?
Bandi Sanjay Kumar claims he handed his son over to police voluntarily. Cyberabad Police, however, state that they arrested Bhageerath at Narsingi on the night of 16 May, after he failed to appear before the investigating officer and the High Court refused him protection.
What did the Telangana High Court rule in this case?
The Telangana High Court on 15 May refused to grant Bandi Bhageerath interim protection from arrest. Following that ruling, police arrested him and he was remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a magistrate.
Why are opposition parties calling for Bandi Sanjay's dismissal?
Opposition parties have demanded Bandi Sanjay Kumar's removal from the Union Cabinet given that his son faces serious POCSO charges. The minister has dismissed these calls, targeting BRS and its leadership rather than directly addressing the demands.
What sections were invoked in the POCSO FIR against Bhageerath?
The initial FIR was registered under Section 11 read with Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the BNS. After further investigation, police added Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act — provisions that carry more severe penalties.
