New Delhi (India) May 17: Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, surrendered before police in a POCSO case following a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl, after police issued a lookout notice against him as they suspected that he might escape the country.

Bandi Sanjay Says Law Equal For All

Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said everybody is equal before the law, whether it was his son or any common man and everybody should obey law. Kumar said his son repeatedly assured he committed no wrong and that they had thought of handing over him immediately to the police as the complaint was lodged. They consulted lawyers with available evidence and lawyers felt that the case would be dismissed and bail would be granted at any cost. Due to that delay it was prolonged.

He added that even now lawyers feel that bail would be granted. So he himself decided not to wait and handed over his son to the police personally with help of lawyers for the sake of investigation.

Telangana HC Refuses Interim Protection

Police had issued a look-out notice against Bhageerath by registering a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Telangana High court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest in an interim anticipatory bail petition late on Friday night observing that it was not inclined to pass any interim order in the case at this stage. Bhageerath's counsel asked the court to provide him interim protection till the order was granted on his application.

Minor Girl’s Family Files Serious Charges

The police registered the case on May 8 on the complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl on the charge that Bhageerath was in a relationship with her daughter and had sexually harassed her under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act. The complainant said that the relationship with the minor started in June 2025 with the mutual acquaintance between them through Instagram and Snapchat.

The mother alleged that Bhageerath tricked the minor into trust by assuring to marry her once she attains majority and exerted emotional pressure over her and police, after recording the statement of the minor, applied severer sections under POCSO Act. 

Bhageerath Alleges Extortion And False Case

Bhageerath filed a counter complaint. He stated that the girl who got acquainted with him, invited him to family functions and group get-togethers. The police registered his FIR too. He said that he accompanied her family and friends to some holy places believing the family, which can be trusted. He said that then they insisted him to marry the girl and on refusal the parents of the girl demanded money by threatening to register a false complaint. 

Bhageerath alleged that he paid Rs 50,000 to the father out of fear and then parents demanded Rs 5 crore by threatening to commit suicide by the mother.