BRS approaches Child Rights Commission over POCSO case against Bandi Sanjay’s son
BRS women leaders have approached TSCPCR seeking intervention in the POCSO case involving Bandi Sai Bhageerath. They alleged police inaction, dilution of charges and bias. The Commission has issued notices and formed a special bench to examine the matter.
Hyderabad: BRS women leaders approached the Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TSCPCR), seeking intervention in the POCSO case involving Bandi Sai Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
Following the complaint, TSCPCR Chairperson Kothakota Seetha Dayakar Reddy issued notices to the police seeking details of the case and the progress of the investigation. The Commission also constituted a special bench to examine the matter.
A delegation led by former Zilla Parishad chairperson Tula Uma, submitted a detailed representation to the Commission chairperson at Buddha Bhavan on Monday, alleging dilution of charges, police inaction, intimidation of the victim’s family and abuse of political influence in the investigation.
In its representation, the BRS alleged that the mother of the minor victim had lodged a complaint at Pet Basheerabad police station on May 8 detailing allegations of sexual harassment, coercion, intimidation and exploitation against Bhageerath. The complainant alleged repeated acts of sexual harassment, molestation, coercive physical advances, emotional manipulation, digital harassment, and exploitation of the minor over a prolonged period.
The BRS women leaders alleged that despite the gravity of the allegations, the police registered only limited offences under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 11 read with 12 of the POCSO Act. They said no arrest has been made and no custodial interrogation initiated against the accused.
They said no meaningful or visible action had been taken against the accused, while a counter-complaint filed by Bhageerath against the victim girl and her parents was acted upon immediately by Karimnagar Two Town police through registration of an FIR.
Speaking to mediapersons, Tula Uma said the sequence of events indicated selective policing, deliberate dilution of offences and retaliatory criminal proceedings intended to intimidate the victim’s family. She urged the Commission to order an independent and impartial investigation, recommend the addition of stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, ensure protection for the victim and her family, and recommend action against erring police officers allegedly responsible for shielding the accused.
