Published May 12, 2026 | 2:07 PM ⚊ Updated May 12, 2026 | 2:07 PM
Bageerath (right) with his father, Minister Bandi Sanjay. (Supplied)
Synopsis: BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail for his son, who is accused of sexual exploitation of a minor.
BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday, 12 May, approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail for his son, Bandi Sai Bhageerath, who is accused of a sustained pattern of “grooming, emotional manipulation and sexual exploitation” of a minor since June 2025.
The petition was filed before the vacation bench of the high court, which is scheduled to hear the matter on 14 May.
On Monday, the Telangana government appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kukatpally), Ritiraj, to lead the Special Investigation Team to probe the case, filed under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Speaking to reporters on Monday evening, the DCP said the accused was still absconding and that the SIT was examining his call detail records (CDR) and searching for his whereabouts.
The development came after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, amid backlash over not arresting the accused, directed Director General of Police (DGP) CV Anand to immediately initiate an investigation into the case, and instructed him to constitute special teams.
According to a press release, the chief minister questioned the DGP over the delay in taking action despite the complaint having been lodged against Bhageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station on 8 May.
The DGP informed the chief minister that the entire police force had been engaged in security arrangements in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Hyderabad.
Also Read: Telangana police say they are unable to trace the accused
The Pet Basheerabad police in the outskirts of Hyderabad on 8 May, registered an FIR against Bhageerath (FIR No 684/2026) under Sections 74/75 of BNS and Section 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act. As is required under the POCSO Act, the Inspector of Pet Basheerabad station filed a report before the IX Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate, Cyberabad, at Medchal.
According to the facts of the case, submitted by Inspector K Vijayavardhan to the court, the complainant (minor girl’s mother) mentioned a sustained pattern of “grooming, emotional manipulation and sexual exploitation” since June, 2025.
The accused, on false promise of marriage and by gaining psychological control of the minor to isolate her, subjected her to repeated physical and sexual abuse at various locations, mostly farmhouses, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The complainant named specific apartments and farmhouses where the alleged exploitation took place.
The Station House officer also submitted to the court the four-page complaint given by the girl’s mother, which has a detailed account of what exactly transpired during the course of the relationship between Bhagirath and the minor girl.
(With inputs from Sumit Jha.)
