Bandi Sanjay’s son moves Telangana HC to restrain media, social platforms over POCSO case

Bandi Sai Bhageerath, son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has approached the Telangana High Court seeking directions to media outlets and social media platforms to restrain circulation of content relating to a POCSO case registered against him.

Legal Correspondent

 

---

Hyderabad: Bandi Sai Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has approached the Telangana High Court seeking directions to social media platforms, television channels and other media outlets to restrain them from circulating or telecasting content relating to a POCSO case registered against him. The writ petition, which is likely to come up before a Single Judge in the next couple of days, relates to FIR registered at Petbasheerabad Police Station under various provisions of the BNS and the POCSO Act.

The case was registered following a complaint by a woman alleging sexual abuse and rape. The provisions of the POCSO Act were subsequently altered during the course of investigation. Bhageerath stated that he was granted interim bail by the High Court on June 19 and regular bail on July 9. Despite this, he alleged that a sustained campaign was being carried out through television channels, print media and social media platforms portraying him as guilty even though the investigation was still pending. He alleged that he had been described in various reports and social media posts as a rapist, offender and perpetrator, besides circulation of morphed and AI-generated images portraying him as Ravana. He further alleged that videos and posts concerning his father were also being circulated, causing serious damage to their reputation.

The petitioner also alleged that the campaign had extended to the Judge who dealt with his bail proceedings, as well as lawyers and public prosecutors associated with the case. Bhageerath has sought directions restraining media houses, broadcasters, digital publishers and social media users from circulating, reposting, transmitting or disseminating material relating to the POCSO case against him. Google LLC, Meta Platforms, X Corp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube channels, several television news channels and digital media organisations, besides the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Telangana DGP, have been arrayed as respondents.