HYDERABAD: A week after a POCSO case was registered against him, Bandi Sai Bhageerath, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, was sent to judicial custody for 14 days following his arrest.
Sanjay, however, said that his son had surrendered before the Pet Basheerabad police station. Advocates also accompanied him at the time of surrender, the MoS said in a press release.
However, the Cyberabad police stated that Bhageerath was apprehended near Tech Park in Manchirevula under the limits of Narsingi police station at 8.15 pm on Saturday following a naka-bandi organised near the Telangana Police Academy based on reliable information.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner Mastepuram Ramesh told TNIE that Bhageerath was arrested in connection with the POCSO case registered at Pet Basheerabad police station on May 8.
After Bhageerath was taken into custody, he was shifted to the Pet Basheerabad police station and examined by the investigating officer in the presence of panch witnesses, a statement by the police commissioner said.
Following his medical examination, he was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody, it said.
On Friday night, the High Court had declined to grant interim relief in his anticipatory bail petition in the case.
Confirming that his son was in police custody, Sanjay said that he had handed Bhageerath over to the police in light of the allegations against him “out of respect for the law”.
The MoS said he had initially considered making his son surrender after the complaint was lodged. However, Bhageerath repeatedly told him that he had done nothing wrong. Sanjay said he then consulted lawyers and presented the evidence to them.
“They told me that the court would grant bail based on the evidence. Due to this, there was a delay in his surrender,” the press note stated. Sanjay added that he had faith in the law and that the high court was likely to pass orders on the bail petition on Monday.
Police search Bandi residence
Earlier in the day, teams of the Cyberabad police conducted searches at several locations in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Karimnagar. Searches were also carried out at Sanjay’s quarters in New Delhi and his residence in Hyderabad. Police said teams searched places frequented by Bhageerath, including the houses of his acquaintances. A lookout circular was also issued during the investigation.
On May 12, the Pet Basheerabad police asked Bhageerath to appear before them for investigation. However, police said they received an email on May 13 stating that he would appear after two days along with relevant evidence. It was not clear, police said, who sent the email.
Police said the investigation was supervised by Kukatpally DCP Ritiraj.
Kavitha asks PM to remove Bandifrom Union Cabinet
Meanwhile, Telangana Rakshana Sena founder K Kavitha wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the removal of Sanjay from the Union Cabinet to ensure a free and fair investigation into the POCSO case registered against the son of the MoS.
In her letter, Kavitha stated that the allegations in the case were serious in nature and involved offences under the POCSO Act.
