BRS women leaders urge DGP to arrest Bandi Sanjay’s son in POCSO case

BRS women leaders have demanded the arrest of Bandi Sai Bhagirath in a POCSO case and accused the police of diluting charges under political pressure. They alleged Union Minister Bandi Sanjay was shielding his son and urged the Centre to dismiss him from the Cabinet while calling for an impartial probe.

Hyderabad: BRS women leaders on Wednesday demanded the immediate arrest of Bandi Sai Bageerath in the POCSO case registered at Petbasheerabad police station, and provide protection for the minor victim and her family. They also sought stringent action against police officials allegedly responsible for diluting the case and shielding the accused.

A delegation of former Minister Satyavathi Rathod, former MLA Gongidi Sunitha, and former Zilla Parishad chairperson Tula Uma, along with other BRS women leaders, met DGP CV Anand on Wednesday and submitted a representation.

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In their complaint, the BRS leaders alleged that some police officers deliberately diluted the charges despite the complainant detailing serious allegations of sexual harassment, coercion, intimidation, and exploitation of the minor victim. They said the FIR invoked only limited provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act instead of stricter sections warranted by the allegations.

They questioned why the police did not issue a look out notice for the accused. They sought to know why no action has been initiated against the accomplices and associates named in the complaint.

The leaders stated that names of key individuals including Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay and another person identified as Sangappa, were omitted from the FIR. They accused the police of inaction, destruction of electronic evidence, and shielding the accused under political influence.

The delegation urged the DGP to ensure an impartial probe and safeguard the victim’s family from intimidation and retaliatory action. They also appealed for recording the victim’s statement before a magistrate, seizure of electronic devices linked to the accused, and a fair investigation free of political interference.

Speaking to mediapersons on the occasion, former Minister Satyavathi Rathod asserted that there cannot be separate laws for the Union Minister’s son in a POCSO case. She said the police not having clue about the whereabouts of the accused who is the son of the Union Minister of State for Home, indicated the inefficiency of the police. She reminded that if the accused was at large, the police normally take his family members and relatives into custody.

“In this case, the police should take Bandi Sanjay into custody and question him. We assumed that there is a lot of political pressure on the police department not to act against the accused,” she said.

Gongidi Sunitha and Tula Uma stated that Union Minister Bandi Sanjay was trying to protect his son, without realising that he too was committing a crime by aiding the accused in such a heinous crime.

They demanded that the Centre dismiss the Union Minister from the Cabinet and ensure justice to the victim. They questioned the silence of the BJP and the Congress leaders especially women leaders on the issue.