Telangana High Court grants bail to Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son in POCSO case

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 case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).

Justice K Sujana noted that the accused has been in custody for last 55 days and that the investigation is almost complete.

"It is the specific stand of learned Public Prosecutor that the averments of counter would clearly show that investigation in the case is almost completed, except for filing of chargesheet," the Bench said.

The Court added that the complainant's apprehension of accused influencing witnesses or tampering with the witnesses can be adequately addressed by imposing stringent conditions.

It ordered the accused not to directly or indirectly contact, approach, communicate with or attempt to influence the victim, the complainant or any of the prosecution witnesses, in any manner whatsoever.

Further, it said that the accused shall not visit the locality, educational institution, residence, workplace or any place frequented by the victim or the complainant.

The accused has also been barred from making any public statement concerning the facts of the case, the victim, the complainant or the witnesses on any social media platform or otherwise.

"The petitioner shall not give interviews, press statements, podcasts, public comments, or media briefings, directly or indirectly, in relation to the present crime or the subject matter thereof, until conclusion of trial," the Court directed.

The case against Bageerath was registered on May 8 based on a complaint filed by the mother of a girl, alleging sexual assault. He was lodged in Cherlapally Central Prison following his arrest in mid-May.

Before his arrest, he had approached the Telangana High Court seeking protection. His counsel argued that there was uncertainty over the complainant’s age and questioned whether the POCSO Act applied. It was also claimed that the two were in a consensual relationship.

The prosecution and the complainant opposed this, maintaining that the girl was a minor and that the allegations were serious. Considering the same, the High Court on May 15 refused to grant him interim protection from arrest, noting that it was not inclined to interfere at that stage after examining the material on record.

Subsequently, he surrendered before the police. Last month, he was granted interim bail for a week to write his BBA supplementary examinations.

Senior Advocate T Niranjan Reddy and advocate C Sharan Reddy represented the accused.

Public Prosecutor Palle Nageshwar Rao appeared for the State.

Senior counsel Pappu Nageshwar Rao with advocate V Mythili represented the complainant. 

[Read Order]