Telangana Police serve POCSO notice to MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son
Synopsis
Cyberabad Police have served a formal POCSO notice on Bandi Bhagirath, son of Union MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, directing him to appear for questioning on 13 May. With the accused reportedly absconding, the Telangana High Court petition pending, and the Chief Minister personally ordering a probe, the case has escalated into a major political and legal flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Cyberabad Police served a POCSO notice to Bandi Bhagirath , 25 , son of Union MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar , on 12 May 2025 .
Bhagirath has been directed to appear at Pet Basheerabad Police Station at 2 pm on 13 May .
The POCSO case was registered on 8 May for alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl under Sections 11 and 12 of POCSO and Sections 74 and 75 of BNS .
Bhagirath filed a counter-complaint alleging the girl's family attempted to honeytrap him and demanded ₹5 crore .
CM Revanth Reddy ordered the DGP to form special investigation teams; DCP Ritiraj is personally supervising the probe.
Bhagirath's interim bail petition before the Telangana High Court Vacation Bench is listed for hearing on 14 May .
Cyberabad Police on Tuesday, 12 May served a formal notice to Bandi Bhagirath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case registered against him four days ago at Pet Basheerabad Police Station in Hyderabad. Bhagirath, 25, has been directed to appear before police at 2 pm on Wednesday, 13 May.
How the Notice Was Served
The notice was served at Bandi Sanjay Kumar's residence in Karimnagar. Since Bhagirath was not present at home, police handed it over to family members. The Station House Officer (SHO) warned in the notice that failure to comply could result in legal action being initiated against the accused.
Details of the POCSO Case
A case was registered against Bandi Bhagirath on 8 May at Pet Basheerabad Police Station under the Cyberabad Commissionerate for alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl. The complaint was filed by the victim's mother, and police registered the case under Section 11 read with Section 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Notably, a few hours before the POCSO case was registered, Bhagirath had filed a counter-complaint at Karimnagar II Town Police Station, alleging that the girl and her parents attempted to honeytrap him and demanded ₹5 crore to not file a complaint. On that complaint, a case was booked against the girl and her parents under BNS sections relating to extortion, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, and common intention.
Government Orders Investigation
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday directed Director General of Police C. V. Anand to immediately initiate a probe and constitute special teams for a comprehensive investigation. Following this, Cyberabad Police Commissioner asked Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj to personally supervise the case.
DCP Ritiraj, who visited Pet Basheerabad Police Station on Monday to review the investigation, confirmed that the victim's statement had been recorded but that further information was required. Hinting that the accused was reportedly absconding, she said that if police located him, they would arrest him. She added that investigators were analysing Bhagirath's Call Detail Records (CDR) to track his whereabouts.
High Court Petition and Father's Response
Bhagirath has approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail. As the court is currently in its summer recess, the petition was filed before the Vacation Bench and is scheduled for hearing on 14 May.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who is also the Member of Parliament from Karimnagar, denied the allegations against his son at the 'Hindu Ekta' rally in Karimnagar on Tuesday. He claimed political rivals were attempting to tarnish his image through false allegations.
Point of View
With the Chief Minister personally directing the DGP to investigate. The counter-complaint alleging a ₹5 crore extortion attempt adds a layer of legal complexity that will likely slow proceedings, as courts will need to untangle competing narratives. What is striking is the speed of the political response: CM Revanth Reddy's direct intervention signals that the Telangana government intends to use this case as a pressure point. The accused's reported absence from home, combined with a High Court bail petition, suggests that despite the public denials, the legal strategy is already in motion.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POCSO case against Bandi Bhagirath?
A POCSO case was registered against Bandi Bhagirath, son of Union MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, on 8 May 2025 at Pet Basheerabad Police Station in Hyderabad for alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl. The case was filed on a complaint by the victim's mother under Sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the BNS.
Why was the notice served at Karimnagar instead of Hyderabad?
Police served the notice at Bandi Sanjay Kumar's residence in Karimnagar because that is the family's home address. Since Bhagirath was not present, the notice was handed over to family members.
What is Bandi Bhagirath's counter-complaint about?
A few hours before the POCSO case was registered, Bhagirath filed a complaint at Karimnagar II Town Police Station alleging that the girl and her parents tried to honeytrap him and demanded ₹5 crore to not file a case against him. A case was booked against the girl and her parents for extortion, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, and common intention.
What action has the Telangana government taken?
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed DGP C. V. Anand to immediately investigate the case and form special teams. Cyberabad Police Commissioner subsequently asked DCP Ritiraj to personally supervise the probe, and investigators are analysing the accused's Call Detail Records.
What is the status of Bandi Bhagirath's bail petition?
Bhagirath has approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail. The petition was filed before the Vacation Bench due to the ongoing summer recess and is scheduled for hearing on 14 May 2025.
