Telangana Police File POCSO Case Against Minister's Son

Telangana police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against Bandi Bhageerath Sai, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, following allegations of sexual harassment by the family of a 17-year-old girl in Hyderabad. The first information report was filed on May 8 at Pet Basheerabad police station under sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act.

The girl's mother alleged that Bhageerath, whom she said her daughter met through mutual friends about seven to eight months ago, promised marriage before engaging in inappropriate behavior. Police reports indicate the alleged incident occurred at a farmhouse in Moinabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad, where the girl was made to consume alcohol and assaulted on at least one occasion, possibly December 31. The girl, a Class 10 dropout and student, has not yet been medically examined as part of the probe.

Hours earlier, Bhageerath filed a counter-complaint at Two Town police station in Karimnagar, accusing the girl's family of extortion and intimidation. He claimed the two developed a friendly relationship involving group...