Published May 21, 2026 | 7:06 PM ⚊ Updated May 21, 2026 | 7:06 PM
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
Synopsis: The Chief Minister also criticised leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for targeting the government over the alleged negligence in the arrest. “The BRS leaders are behaving like sadists in connection with the POCSO case. It is not right to politicise such an issue. Political battles should be fought in elections, not by stooping to this level for political mileage,” he said.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday, 21 May, rejected Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s claim that he had “personally handed over” his son to the police after they sought cooperation in the investigation into the POCSO case registered at Pet Basheerabad police station.
He also refuted allegations of delay in Bageerath’s arrest and other alleged procedural lapses stating that the police were acting strictly according to procedure in the sensitive case.
Addressing a press conference at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat, Revanth Reddy asserted that the police had followed due procedure in probing the case and maintained that Bageerath was arrested by the police themselves at APPA junction in the city.
“If he had really handed over his son, it would have happened either at his residence or at a police station. If a person is taken into custody in the middle of the road, can that be called surrender?” the Chief Minister asked, pointing to what he described as contradictory statements from the police and the Union Minister.
Also Read: Telangana revises minimum wages for unskilled workers from ₹12,750 to ₹16,000
The Chief Minister also criticised leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for targeting the government over the alleged negligence in the arrest. “The BRS leaders are behaving like sadists in connection with the POCSO case. It is not right to politicise such an issue. Political battles should be fought in elections, not by stooping to this level for political mileage,” he said.
He further accused KTR of politicising the issue. “Is KTR acting as a judge? The police and the government function according to law. As soon as a complaint was received, a case was registered. The girl’s statement had to be recorded within 24 hours and the matter was handled sensitively,” he said.
Revanth Reddy also condemned attempts to drag the victim into political controversy. “Why should politics be done by obstructing a minor girl? This is nothing but sadism,” the CM said.
His remarks came a day after Bandi Sanjay accused the BRS leadership of running a “false and poisonous campaign” against him over the case involving his son.
Defending the police investigation, Revanth Reddy said the authorities were following established legal procedure in the case, just as they had done in other investigations. Referring to notices reportedly issued in connection with alleged drug use at the farmhouse of BRS working president KTR’s brother-in-law, he said, “If notices can be issued in that case, notices can also be issued to Bandi Bageerath.”
The Chief Minister questioned the conduct of the Opposition leader and criticised former Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, for not responding publicly to the incident. “If such a serious incident took place in the State, why did KCR not come out and respond. He would have issued a statement at least?” he asked.
Also Read: Telangana BJP MLA defends POCSO case accused Bandi Sai Bageerath
