Published May 16, 2026 | 11:17 AM ⚊ Updated May 16, 2026 | 11:21 AM
Bandi Bageerath
Synopsis: According to information received by South First, Bageerath will turn himself over to the police on Saturday, to contain further damage. The police had already served him a notice to appear before them in connection with the case filed against him under Section 5 and 6 of POCSO.
With all doors for escape practically shut, Bandi Sai Bageerath, accused under POCSO, is expected to present himself before the Telangana police anytime on Saturday, 16 May.
The decision by the family, headed by Bageerath’s father, Union Minister Bandi Sanjay, was taken hours after the Telangana High Court on Friday, 15 May, midnight refused to grant anticipatory bail to the accused.
“Having partly read the statement given by the victim under Section 161 of CrPC, I am not inclined to grant any relief at this stage,” the judge said having reserved her orders on the bail plea to next week. The counsel for the accused desperately pleaded for protection until the judge pronounced her order but the judge did not relent.
According to information received by South First, Bageerath will turn himself over to the police on Saturday, to contain further damage. The police had already served him a notice to appear before them in connection with the case filed against him under Section 5 and 6 of POCSO.
Also Read: No HC respite for Bandi Bageerath in sexual assault case, order likely during next sitting
The relentless coverage in digital media, despite mainstream media being largely silent, since the case was booked on 8 May has caused immense damage to Sanjay, the BJP, as well the Congress government which was accused of not acting swiftly.
On Friday, at a media conclave in Hyderabad, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy advised the Union Minister to ask his son to surrender before the police and facilitate investigation. Hours later, the high court denied bail, shutting all possible options to evade arrest.
Sources said Bageerath will mostly likely be arrested when he appears before the police, given the gravity of the offence.
Events since Friday have not been going in favour of Sanjay’s family. First came the news that the police have finally started cracking the whip against social media influencers (allegedly at the behest of Sanjay) who put up photos and videos of the survivor on X and other platforms.
In his own petition before a city civil court seeking a gag order on media mentioning his name in the case against his son, the Union Minister admitted in writing that the victim was indeed a minor. All the spinning by sections of media that she may not be a minor has gone for a toss.
The final straw came in the form of statement by the Chief Minister and the high court decision.
Also Read: Telangana CM Revanth asks Bandi Sanjay to turn son over to police
Sanjay’s petition to gag the media in itself was surprising and bereft of any logic. It was Sanjay who responded to the charges against him on multiple occasions:
Against this background, the city civil court, it appears, has now issued an order restraining media from linking Sanjay to Bageerath.
Expect us to henceforth write, POCSO accused, Bandi Bageerath, son of Union Minister XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
Also Read: POCSO sections against Bandi Bageerath revised
