Telangana HC denies arrest protection to MoS Bandi Sanjay's son in POCSO case
Synopsis
The Telangana High Court sat until midnight and still refused to shield Bandi Bhageerath from arrest — a significant setback for the son of a sitting Union Home Minister. With harsher POCSO provisions now invoked and the accused having skipped a police summons, the case is escalating rapidly on both legal and political fronts.
Key Takeaways
The Telangana High Court refused interim arrest protection to Bandi Bhageerath on 16 May after a five-and-a-half hour midnight hearing.
Madhavi Devi said she was not inclined to grant any interim order after reviewing the victim's statement; further orders expected next week.
A POCSO case was registered on 8 May alleging sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at a farmhouse in Moinabad .
Police added Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of POCSO — covering aggravated penetrative sexual assault, punishable by up to 20 years or more — after further questioning of the victim.
Bhageerath failed to appear before the investigating officer on 13 May and filed a counter-complaint in Karimnagar alleging ₹5 crore extortion attempt.
The City Civil Court separately ordered removal of allegedly defamatory media content targeting Union MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar .
The Telangana High Court on 16 May refused to grant interim protection from arrest to Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The single-judge vacation bench heard arguments for approximately five-and-a-half hours, extending proceedings until around midnight before declining relief.
What the Court Decided
Justice T. Madhavi Devi made clear she was not inclined to grant any interim order after reviewing the victim's statement. The judge indicated she may pass further orders next week. During arguments, the accused's counsel questioned whether the victim was a minor; her counsel countered by submitting her Class 10 memorandum as proof of age.
The Case Against Bhageerath
A POCSO case was first registered against Bandi Bhageerath on 8 May at Pet Basheerabad Police Station, following allegations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl at a farmhouse in Moinabad. The initial case was registered under Sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Following further questioning of the victim by Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj on Tuesday, police invoked harsher provisions, adding Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act to the First Information Report. This section pertains to aggravated penetrative sexual assault and carries a punishment that may extend to 20 years' imprisonment or more.
Bhageerath's Response and Counter-Complaint
Bhageerath was served a notice directing him to appear before the investigating officer on 13 May. He did not appear but reportedly sent a letter to the investigating officer requesting two additional days to comply. Separately, he lodged a counter-complaint in Karimnagar, alleging that the victim's family attempted to extort ₹5 crore by threatening to implicate him in a false case.
Civil Court Order on Media Coverage
In a parallel development, the City Civil Court on Friday issued directions for the removal of allegedly defamatory content against Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar from various media and digital platforms. The court acted on a petition filed by Bandi Sanjay, who sought protection of his constitutional rights to reputation and dignity, citing what he described as a sustained and malicious campaign of false and misleading publications.
The court ordered the deletion of videos targeting the minister and directed the removal of newspaper clippings, digital content, and wall posters. All digital and satellite media channels, social media platforms, and intermediaries were restrained from broadcasting any defamatory or objectionable material regarding Bandi Sanjay until further orders. The court warned that violations would attract action under the Contempt of Courts Act.
Family Health Emergency
Amid the legal proceedings, Bandi Sanjay's mother, Shakuntala, suffered a cardiac arrest in Karimnagar and was subsequently shifted to Hyderabad, where she was admitted to a private hospital. Bandi Sanjay visited the hospital to enquire about her condition.
With the High Court reserving its decision on interim bail for next week, the case continues to draw significant political and legal attention in Telangana.
Point of View
Despite his political lineage. The escalation to aggravated POCSO provisions is significant: it shifts the legal burden considerably and narrows the window for bail. The parallel civil court order gagging media coverage of the minister raises legitimate questions about the boundaries between protecting reputation and suppressing public-interest reporting on a serving Union minister's family. That both courts were in motion simultaneously, in opposite directions, captures the political and legal complexity of this case.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POCSO case against Bandi Bhageerath?
A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered against Bandi Bhageerath on 8 May at Pet Basheerabad Police Station, alleging he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl at a farmhouse in Moinabad. Police later added provisions related to aggravated penetrative sexual assault, which carries a punishment of up to 20 years or more.
Why did the Telangana High Court refuse interim protection to Bhageerath?
Justice T. Madhavi Devi declined to grant any interim order after reviewing the victim's statement, stating she was not inclined to provide relief. The court heard arguments for about five-and-a-half hours before refusing the protection; further orders are expected next week.
What are the harsher POCSO provisions added to the FIR?
Police added Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault. This provision carries a punishment that may extend to 20 years' imprisonment or more, significantly escalating the legal stakes for the accused.
What is the counter-complaint filed by Bhageerath?
Bhageerath lodged a counter-complaint in Karimnagar, alleging that the victim's family attempted to extort ₹5 crore by threatening to implicate him in a false case. The police are yet to publicly detail the status of this counter-complaint.
What did the City Civil Court order regarding media coverage?
The City Civil Court directed the removal of allegedly defamatory content — including videos, newspaper clippings, digital content, and wall posters — targeting Union MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar. All media channels and social media platforms were restrained from broadcasting objectionable material about him until further orders, with contempt action warned for violations.
