A large number of women staged a protest outside Petbasheerabad police station on Sunday demanding the immediate arrest of Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay, a day after a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against him.
The protesters gathered outside the police station carrying banners and placards. They questioned the delay in arresting the accused and demanded immediate action in the case. The demonstrators also called for Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s resignation.
The case was registered by Petbasheerabad police on Friday night following a complaint lodged by a 17-year-old girl, who alleged that Bandi Bhageerath sexually assaulted her at a farmhouse in Moinabad on December 31.
According to the First Information Report, the accused invited the girl to a farmhouse in Moinabad, where his friends, including five boys and two girls, were present. The complaint alleged that despite her resistance, she was pressured into consuming alcohol and between 1.30 a.m. and 2.30 a.m., Bandi Bhageerath, in an intoxicated condition, entered the girl’s room and sexually assaulted her.
The complaint also referred to subsequent digital communication between the two, alleging that the accused repeatedly apologised to the girl and acknowledged causing her emotional distress and harm. The girl’s family further alleged that the minor attempted suicide twice, on January 19 and January 26, due to severe emotional trauma.
According to the complaint, the family also faced pressure and attempts to dissuade them after they began pursuing legal action in the matter. Hours before the POCSO case was registered, Bandi Bhageerath lodged a separate complaint at Karimnagar Town-I Police Station alleging that he was being blackmailed and harassed by the girl’s family.
Police officials said both complaints are being investigated separately and further action is awaited.