Published May 13, 2026 | 7:07 PM ⚊ Updated May 13, 2026 | 7:07 PM
Bhageerath with his father, Minister Bandi Sanjay.
Synopsis: Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has sought two days’ time to appear before the Special Investigation Team probing allegations that he groomed and sexually assaulted a minor, citing short notice and a personal inconvenience. His anticipatory bail petition is pending before the Telangana High Court.
Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has sought two days’ time to appear before the Special Investigation Team probing allegations that he groomed and sexually assaulted a minor since June. He said the notice issued to him was at “extremely short notice” and that a “personal inconvenience” prevented him from appearing.
In a letter addressed to the Station House Officer of Pet Basheerabad police station on Wednesday, 13 May, Bageerath acknowledged receipt of the notice and said he was willing to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the police.
“I, without prejudice to my rights and contentions, respectfully submit that I am desirous of appearing before the undersigned officer and assisting the investigation in the manner sought,” he said.
A copy of the letter.
He sought a short adjournment, saying he needed time to gather documents and information relevant to the investigation.
“I, therefore, most respectfully request a short accommodation of two (02) days from the date appointed in the Notice, so as to enable me to collate the relevant material, documents and information in my possession that would meaningfully aid the investigation and assist the investigation into the false allegations made against me and my family, and thereafter appear before the undersigned officer in a duly prepared manner,” he added.
Police had earlier said they were unable to trace him and were examining his call detail records while searching for his whereabouts.
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Bageerath was booked by the Pet Basheerabad police under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on 8 May. The FIR was initially registered under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 11 read with Section 12 of the POCSO Act.
According to facts submitted to the court by Inspector K Vijayavardhan, the complainant — the survivor’s mother — accused Bageerath of a sustained pattern of “grooming, emotional manipulation and sexual exploitation” since June.
The complaint said the accused gained psychological control over the minor and isolated her by falsely promising marriage. It accused him of repeatedly subjecting her to physical and sexual abuse at several locations, mostly farmhouses on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The complainant named specific apartments and farmhouses where the alleged abuse took place.
The Station House Officer also submitted to the court the four-page complaint filed by the girl’s mother, detailing the course of the relationship between Bageerath and the minor.
On Tuesday, 12 May, police altered the charges to Section 5(l) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, invoking provisions related to aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
The same day, the SIT issued a notice directing him to appear before police at 2 pm on Wednesday. The notice was served through Bageerath’s maternal uncle, CH Vamshi Krishna, a doctor based in Karimnagar. It warned that failure to appear before the investigating officer could lead to legal action.
His anticipatory bail petition is pending before the Telangana High Court. With the court on summer vacation, the matter is listed before the vacation bench on 14 May.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
