Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son Bandi Bhageerath on Wednesday did not appear before police for questioning in the POCSO case registered against him, but sent a letter, seeking two days to make himself available for questioning.
Bhageerath was directed to appear before the Station House Officer of Pet Basheerabad Police Station at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. A notice was served on Tuesday.
Bhageerath sent a letter to the SHO, seeking two days to appear before him.
While acknowledging the receipt of the notice, he expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
He, however, explained that in view of the short notice and also on account of certain personal inconvenience, he was unable to appear on May 13.
“I, therefore. most respectfully request a short accommodation of two (02) days from the date appointed in the Notice, so as to enable me to collate the relevant material, documents and information in my possession that would meaningfully aid the investigation and assist the investigation into the false allegations made against me and my family, and thereafter appear before the undersigned officer in a duly prepared manner,” reads the letter.
A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Bhageerath on May 8 at Pet Basheerabad Police Station for alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl.
On a complaint by the victim that Bhageerath sexually assaulted her at a farmhouse in Moinabad, the police registered a case under Section 11 r/w 12 of the POCSO Act and sections 74 and 75 of BNS.
The accused also lodged a counter-complaint in Karimnagar, alleging that the girl’s family attempted to extort Rs 5 crore by threatening to implicate him in a false case.
On Monday, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed Director General of Police C. V. Anand to initiate an investigation into the case.
The same day, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj was appointed to supervise the investigation. She spoke to the victim on Tuesday to gather more details.
Subsequently, police invoked harsher provisions of the POCSO Act. Section 5 (1) read with 6 was added to the FIR. The section deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault and carries a punishment that may extend up to 20 years imprisonment or more.
Police on Tuesday served a notice to Bhageerath’s maternal uncle in Karimnagar, directing Bhageerath to appear before the investigating officer at 2 p.m. on May 13. Police also warned that failure to comply with the notice will invite legal action.
Bhageerath, 25, has also approached the Telangana High Court, seeking interim bail. A vacation bench is scheduled to hear the petition on Thursday.
Meanwhile, BRS general secretary R. S. Praveen Kumar questioned the police as to why notices were issued to the accused’s maternal uncle without issuing notices to Bandi Sanjay, who was openly threatening in Karimnagar on Tuesday evening.
“What is the necessity to issue notices to the accused Bandi Bhageerath, who allegedly raped a minor girl countless times? Where is this provision in the law? The DGP must provide an answer,” said the former IPS officer.
(IANS)
