The Petbasheerabad police on Friday (May 08) registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) against Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay, following a complaint by a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he sexually assaulted her on December 31 at a farm in Moinabad.
A few hours earlier, at 5 pm on Friday, Bhageerath had filed a separate complaint at the Karimnagar Town-I police station, alleging that he was blackmailed and harassed by the girl’s family. Police said the two complaints were investigated separately.
The complaint lodged with the Petbasheerbad police alleged that the incident took place during a visit to the farmhouse and that a case was registered after her family approached the police. A senior official close to the development said the girl’s family reached the police station around 8 pm and a manual FIR was registered around 10 pm.
In his complaint, Bhageerath claimed that he came in contact with the girl through a mutual friend and that they later became part of a larger social circle. He stated that he was invited to family functions, group gatherings and trips to spiritual places along with other friends, including visits to Vijayawada, Arunachalam and Tirumala temples.
According to the complaint, Bhageerath alleged that after some time the girl and her parents started pressuring him to marry her. He claimed that when he refused, the family allegedly threatened to implicate him in false criminal cases, including allegations of molestation and physical relationship.
He further claimed that the family demanded money from him and that he paid ₹50,000 to the girl’s father fearing the consequences. However, he claimed that the demands escalated and that the family later demanded ₹5 crore, allegedly threatening that the girl’s mother would commit suicide if the amount was not paid.
Based on his complaint, proceedings were initiated under § 308 para. 5 (extortion), 351 para. 2 (criminal threats), 61 para. 2 r/w 3 para. 5 (criminal conspiracy with several persons) of the BNS and an investigation was initiated.
However, the girl’s family subsequently approached the Petbasheerabad police and filed a counter-complaint claiming that the girl was a minor and accused Bhageerath of sexual assault. After verifying her age, the police closed the case under the relevant provisions of the POCSO.
Published – 09 May 2026 11:58 IST
