BRS Mounts Protest Over POCSO Row
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) staged a sit-in protest at Amberpet here on Tuesday, demanding the arrest of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay’s son Bandi Bhagirath, against whom a POCSO case has been registered.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the BRS cadres demanded the immediate arrest of Bandi Bhagirath, who is reported to be absconding.
BRS MLA Kaleru Venkatesh, along with BRS leaders and women activists, participated in the protest.
Venkatesh alleged that an attempt was made to dilute the case by registering a case of a honey trap against the victim.
He said instead of registering a case against Bhagirath for harassing the minor girl, an attempt was made to shield him by booking a honey trap case against the victim and her family members.
The MLA accused the Congress government of trying to protect Bandi Sanjay’s son. He claimed that this proved their allegation that Congress and the BJP were hand in glove.
The BRS leader demanded that, owning responsibility for the incident, Bandi Sanjay should immediately resign as the Central minister.
He demanded that the state government respond by immediately arresting Bandi Bhagirath and remanding him to custody. He called upon everyone to fight until justice is served to the victim's family.
“Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay and an accused in a POCSO case, is reportedly absconding. If anyone has information about his whereabouts, please inform the nearest police station,” reads a social media post by BRS.
The BRS has accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of shielding Bhagirath and Bandi Sanjay. “While the Congress government made quick arrests in other cases, it is delaying the arrest of Bhagirath. Different rules for different people? Justice must be served for the minor girl,” it said
Meanwhile, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao targeted both the BJP and Congress. “Original slogan was “Beti Padao, Beti Bachao” Latest is “Beta Bhagao, Beta Bachao” Well done both BJP and Congress,” Rama Rao posted on ‘X’.
A case was registered against Bandi Bhagirath on May 8 at the Pet Basheerabad Police Station of Cyberabad Commissionerate under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl.
The girl’s mother alleged that Bhagirath had been harassing their daughter for over six months. He also allegedly misbehaved with her at a farmhouse in Moinabad.
On her complaint, the police registered a case under Section 11 r/w 12 of the POCSO Act and sections 74 and 75 of the BNS.
Bhagirath, 25, had earlier lodged a complaint in Karimnagar II Town Police Station against the girl and her parents. He alleged that they attempted to honeytrap him and demanded Rs 5 crore for not filing a police complaint against him.
On his complaint, a case was booked against the girl and her parents under various sections of the BNS for extortion, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and common intention.
Bandi Sanjay has denied the allegation against his son. He claimed that political rivals were trying to tarnish his image by making false allegations.
