Bandi Bhagirath Gets Bail

The Telangana High Court on Thursday granted bail to Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a POCSO case.

Pronouncing its orders on the bail petition, the High Court granted conditional bail.

The court directed him to cooperate with the police in the investigation. He was also directed to furnish a bond of Rs 1 lakh along with two sureties.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court reserved orders on Monday.

A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Bandi Bageerath at Pet Basheerabad Police Station of Cyberabad Commissionerate on May 8 for the alleged assault of a 17-year-old girl.

Police had arrested Bageerath on May 16 on the outskirts of Hyderabad after the High Court had declined to give interim protection from arrest.

Bandi Sanjay, however, had claimed that his son surrendered before police.

Bageerath had earlier secured one week's bail from the trial court to appear for his exams, from June 22 to June 24. He surrendered before the Cherlapally prison authorities on June 25 in compliance with the bail conditions.

On a complaint by the victim's mother, the case was booked under Section 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act and Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The victim's mother had lodged a complaint that Bageerath, who was in a relationship with her, subjected her to sexual harassment.

The accused also lodged a counter-complaint in Karimnagar, alleging that the girl's family attempted to extort Rs 5 crore by threatening to implicate him in a false case.

After the investigating officer recorded the victim's statement, the police invoked Section 5(1), read with Section 6, of the POCSO Act. The section deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault and carries a punishment that may extend up to 20 years’ imprisonment or more.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) had also questioned Bageerath based on statements recorded during the course of investigation and digital evidence.