The Telangana High Court has granted permission to Bandi Bhageerath, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, to file a regular bail petition in a POCSO case. Bhageerath’s counsel was allowed to withdraw the anticipatory bail petition following his arrest by the police on May 16. The court, which had earlier declined interim protection to Bhageerath, reserved orders on the anticipatory bail plea.
Bhageerath’s counsel, Karuna Sagar, requested to withdraw the petition on Thursday, and the court obliged. The accused’s legal team also sought approval to submit a regular bail petition, which was granted by the court. A case under the POCSO Act was registered against Bhageerath on May 8 at Pet Basheerabad Police Station, alleging sexual assault on a minor girl.
The police, after speaking to the victim, invoked stricter provisions of the POCSO Act, adding Section 5(1) read with 6 to the FIR. Despite being directed to appear before the investigating officer on May 13, Bhageerath did not show up but sent a letter seeking a two-day extension. Following his arrest on May 16, Bhageerath, who surrendered according to his father, was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days and is presently held at Cherlapally jail.
