Women organizations protested at Pet Basheerabad Police Station in Hyderabad, demanding the arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay’s son, Bandi Bhageerath, in a POCSO case. The protestors, carrying placards and banners, gathered in front of the police station, urging the immediate arrest of Bhageerath for allegedly assaulting a minor girl. Police attempted to disperse the protestors, resulting in a confrontation, with the protestors continuing their demonstration by sitting on the roads.
The delay in Bhageerath’s arrest, despite being booked under the POCSO Act on May 8, was questioned by the protestors. They criticized the police for not allowing them to peacefully protest. Telangana Rakshana Samithi (TRS) leader K. Kavitha called for a lookout notice to be issued for Bhageerath to prevent him from fleeing the country due to the serious allegations he faces. She emphasized the need for a transparent investigation to build trust among women in society.
Communist Party of India (CPI) senior leader Chada Venkata Reddy demanded a thorough investigation into the case and strict punishment for the guilty party. The POCSO Act case against Bhageerath, accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl, has sparked a significant political controversy. The main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accused the Congress government of protecting the accused, leading to protests by BRS members demanding Bhageerath’s immediate arrest.
Police served a notice on Bhageerath at his relative’s house in Karimnagar, instructing him to appear at Pet Basheerabad Police Station for questioning. Bhageerath, 25, has sought interim bail from the Telangana High Court, with a vacation bench set to hear his petition on Thursday.
