The Telangana police on Saturday issued a Look Out Circular (LoC) against Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son, Bandi Sai Bhageerath, in connection with a POCSO case registered against him, the Special Investigating Officer in the case and Kukatpally DCP Ritiraj told The Indian Express.
The LoC is meant to prevent the accused from leaving the country. “Efforts are on to trace him. We are on the job,” Ritiraj said.
Telangana police, meanwhile, conducted searches for the 23-year-old at his father’s home in Karimnagar, his relative’s residence in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills, and his friends’ homes in Yousufguda, among other locations.
Bhageerath is accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old between October and December 2025. The two had allegedly met through mutual friends in June 2025.
In a complaint lodged at the Petbasheerabad police station on May 8, the girl’s mother alleged that Bhageerath subjected her to repeated sexual abuse and emotional blackmail. According to the complaint, he allegedly isolated her and controlled her educational career decisions.
Police initially booked Bhageerath under charges of assault or using criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and sexual harassment, along with provisions of the POCSO Act. Later, once the girl’s statement was recorded, the police added the charge of aggravated sexual assault under the POCSO Act.
On Friday night, the Telangana High Court had refused to give Bhageerath interim protection from arrest.
Story continues below this ad
His counsel, senior advocate S Niranjan Reddy, argued that the police be directed not to arrest him, adding that stringent conditions may be imposed during the interim period. However, at the end of the hearing, which lasted over two hours, Justice T Madhavi Devi said, “I have gone through the statement of the victim, though not in detail but cursorily, and at this stage, I’m not inclined to grant any interim order.”
The hearing on the case began on a dramatic note, with the court observing that there was “a smear campaign” on social media which suggested that the judge had been “influenced” in the high-profile case. “I’m not shying away from hearing the matter. I will pass orders. But this is not done,” she said.
The judge asked the girl’s counsel if they had any reservations about arguing the case before this court, to which the counsel said no and that the court may hear the matter.
Thereafter, senior advocate Reddy specifically referred to cases where interim anticipatory bail was granted for POCSO offences. He also submitted that after the FIR was filed in the present case, a statement (by the girl) had been given and improvements were made, wherein the original offence did not allege penetrative sexual assault.
Story continues below this ad
“If the original offence is not alleging penetrative sexual assault, then can it be thought that subsequent improvement evokes any suspicion in your ladyship’s mind. My lord may grant me that benefit of doubt,” Reddy argued in court.
Bhageerath also filed a complaint accusing the girl’s family of an extortion attempt. He alleged that the family was forcing him to marry her or pay up Rs 5 crore.
Meanwhile, the State’s counsel submitted that the girl was a minor and said that there was no question of granting the petitioner anticipatory bail in a POCSO case. The counsel further pointed out that the petitioner has an influential background. “What will be the fear in the mind of the victim,” the counsel said.
Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice.
Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include:
Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India.
Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism.
Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities.
National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting.
Authoritativeness & Trust
A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society.
Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More
