Bhagirath, son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, surrounded in the POCSO case, surrendered after not getting relief from the High Court. Lookout circular, late night arrest, alleged extortion of Rs 5 crore and claims of political conspiracy created a new storm in Telangana politics.
Hyderabad: The troubles of Bandi Bhagirath, son of Union Minister of State for Home, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, are increasing continuously. Bhagirath, surrounded by serious allegations of sexual harassment of a 17-year-old minor girl and POCSO Act, has finally surrendered before the clutches of the law. Bhagiratha has been taken into police custody after the Telangana High Court rejected his application for interim protection (stay on arrest). This high-profile case has not only heated up the politics of Telangana but has also reached the Union Cabinet.
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That midnight intelligence operation: When the police laid a trap
Bhagirath was running away from the police since the case was registered on May 8. Cyberabad police, showing promptness, had issued a ‘lookout circular’ against him. The Special Operations Team (SOT) of the police and other special teams were conducting extensive raids at every possible hideout and houses of Bhagirath’s acquaintances in Delhi, Karimnagar and various parts of the country.
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After midnight on Saturday, the police received a very strong and confidential information that the accused had been seen near the police academy of Bhagirath city. Without wasting any time, the police cordoned off all sides within Manchirevula and Narsingi police limits. Sensing this maze and on the advice of his lawyers, Bhagiratha finally surrendered himself to the police.
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Confession of crime in front of five witnesses: What was the truth behind closed doors?
After the arrest, Bhagirath was immediately taken to Petbasheerabad police station. Following the strict procedures of law, the investigating officer rigorously interrogated Bhagirath in the presence of impartial citizens i.e. ‘punch witnesses’. According to the official statement of the police, during this interrogation the accused confessed to his crime, after which he was formally arrested. After undergoing medical test in the night itself, Bhagirath was produced before the magistrate, from where he has been sent to judicial custody.
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Extortion of Rs 5 crore or political conspiracy? Bhagiratha’s ‘Counter Story’
There is another shocking aspect of this whole matter. Bhagirath and his father Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar are vehemently rejecting these allegations. Bhagirath has filed a counter complaint with the police, in which the story seems to be completely different:
- Sacred Journey and Closeness: Bhagirath claims that the girl’s family had invited him to some family functions, after which he also accompanied them on a religious trip with a group of friends.
- Pressure and threat of marriage: According to the complaint, the girl’s parents later put pressure on Bhagirath for marriage. If he refused, he was threatened with being implicated in a false case.
- Demand of Rs 5 crore: Bhagirath alleges that out of fear, he had earlier given Rs 50,000 to the girl’s father, but later a huge amount of Rs 5 crore was demanded from the family and if the demand was not met, the girl’s mother threatened to commit suicide.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay has termed this entire matter as a ‘political conspiracy’ to tarnish his reputation. However, he also clarified that while respecting the law, he himself had asked his son to cooperate in the investigation and surrender.
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Statement of the victim in front of the magistrate: Why did Bhagirath’s troubles increase?
The biggest turning point in this case came when the statements of the 17-year-old victim and her mother (complainant) were recorded before the Magistrate (under Section 164) on Saturday. According to legal experts, statements recorded before a magistrate are considered highly reliable and witnesses cannot contradict them during the trial. On the basis of the victim’s statements, the police added more stringent and non-bailable sections of the POCSO Act in the case, which closed all avenues of Bhagirath’s escape.
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Chief Minister’s big order: Now woman IPS will take command
Considering the sensitivity of the case and the high-profile faces involved, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has taken strict cognizance of this. Earlier this investigation was being monitored by IPS officer Rituraj, but after strict instructions from the Chief Minister, now the command of this entire sensitive case has been handed over to a woman officer, so that the victim can get a completely safe environment and the investigation is fair.
The heat reached Delhi: Demand for minister’s resignation raised
After this arrest, there has been an uproar in the politics of Telangana. Telangana Defense Force (TRS) President K. Kavita has written a letter directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding immediate removal of prisoner Sanjay Kumar from the Union Cabinet (MoS Home). Kavita argues that as long as the Union Minister remains in his post, it is not possible to have a fair and independent investigation against his son. Now all eyes are on the court whether Bhagirath will have to remain behind the bars or his counter theory will be able to get him out of this quagmire.