Bageerath with Union minister Bandi Sanjay
NEW DELHI: A Hyderabad court granted interim bail until June 25 to Bageerath, son of Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who was arrested in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Bageerath, who had been lodged in judicial custody, secured temporary relief from the court on Friday to enable him to appear for his BBA examinations.He was taken into custody on the night of May 16 following the registration of the case and was later remanded to judicial custody by a magistrate. Prior to his arrest, the Telangana High Court had declined to provide him interim protection from coercive action.The case was registered at the Petbasheerabad police station on May 8 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act based on a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl.According to the complaint, Bageerath was in a relationship with the minor and had allegedly subjected her to sexual harassment. After investigators recorded the girl’s statement, additional and more serious charges under the BNS and POCSO Act were incorporated into the case.Bageerath, however, has denied the allegations and filed a counter-complaint of his own. In his version, he alleged that the girl had introduced herself to him and had invited him to family events and social gatherings. He stated that, trusting the family, he accompanied them on group visits to certain religious places. He further claimed that the girl and her parents later pressured him to marry her and allegedly demanded money when he refused.According to his complaint, he was threatened with false cases if he did not comply with their demands. Police subsequently registered an FIR on the basis of his complaint as well.The matter remains under investigation.
