Telangana Police Launch Manhunt for Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's Son in POCSO Case

Union Minister's Son at Center of POCSO Case Amidst Allegations of Sexual Harassment

The Telangana Police is actively searching for Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son Bhageerath in connection with a POCSO case filed against him in Hyderabad. The case was registered on May 8 at the Pet Basheerabad police station in Hyderabad, based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that Bhageerath was in a relationship with her daughter and sexually harassed her.

According to officials, the alleged relationship between Bhageerath and the girl began about seven-eight months ago. Bhageerath has denied the charge and alleged extortion and criminal intimidation by the teen and her parents. In a complaint lodged with the police in Karimnagar, Bhageerath stated that the girl and her parents later pressured him to marry her. When he rejected the proposal, the girl's parents allegedly demanded money and threatened to file false complaints against him if he failed to pay.

In response to the allegations, Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar stated that his son had told him that he committed no wrongdoing. Kumar emphasized that his son should be punished if he is guilty and that he would not be cowed down by the allegations. Kumar also claimed that an attempt is being made to portray his son as a criminal, which pained him.

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Bhageerath has moved the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case and quashing of the FIR. The court has directed Bhageerath to appear before the police for questioning on May 13. However, Bhageerath has been evading arrest, and police teams were sent to Karimnagar to apprehend him. The police have invoked more stringent sections of the POCSO Act in the case.

The police have issued a notice to Bhageerath directing him to appear before the police for questioning on May 13. The case has sparked a heated debate, with Kumar asserting that he would not spare anyone who troubles him, his party, activists, and "dragged his family to the road" through their conspiracies.