Telangana: Union minister’s son arrested in Pocso case after HC declines to grant interim relief

Bandi Bhageerath, son of a Union minister, surrendered before the police in Telangana on Saturday evening, hours after the High Court declined to give interim protection from arrest in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act case, the Hindustan Times reported.

Bhageerath was arrested from Narsingi near Hyderabad and was taken to Pet Basheerabad police station, Cyberabad Police Commissioner Ramesh Reddy said.

Bhageerath was later produced before a magistrate, who sent him to judicial custody till May 29, his lawyer Karunasagar was quoted as saying by ANI.

The parents of a girl, reported to be a 17-year-old, have alleged that Bhageerath befriended their daughter on the pretext of marriage and sexually assaulted her at a farmhouse in Moinabad on December 31.

The Union minister’s has also registered a complaint, accusing the girl and her family of blackmailing and extorting him of Rs 5 crore. Based on his complaint, the police registered a case of extortion and criminal intimidation against the girl and her parents.

A High Court vacation bench of Justice T Madhavi Devi had heard the matter till midnight on Friday, the Hindustan Times reported. She reserved orders on the anticipatory bail petition by Bhageerath and said that the verdict would be delivered on May 21.

While Bhageerath’s lawyer urged the court to grant interim protection from arrest until...

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