RS Praveen Kumar calls Sai Bageerath a threat to young girls in Telangana, urges people to help trace him

BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar appealed to the public to help trace absconding POCSO accused Bandi Sai Bageerath, alleging political interference in the investigation. He also demanded a probe into Union Minister Bandi Sanjay’s alleged role and criticised police silence

Hyderabad: BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar on Thursday appealed to the public to help trace POCSO accused Bandi Sai Bageerath, who has been absconding. Accusing the police of making no serious effort to arrest him due to political pressure, he released multiple photographs of the accused in different disguises.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, the former IPS officer urged citizens to report the accused’s whereabouts by dialling 1098 (Child Protection Helpline) or 100. He said people could also coordinate with the BRS to assist in ensuring the accused’s arrest. “Women and young girls in Telangana are under threat as long as he remains free,” he said.

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The BRS leader praised Kukatpally DCP Riti Raj for ensuring more stringent POCSO provisions were invoked against the accused and urged her to pursue the investigation further. He specifically called for an examination of the call data records of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay, BJP spokesperson Sangappa, and the victim’s parents, along with CCTV footage from the residence of the Union Minister.

“All of this will establish Bandi Sanjay’s involvement and threats to the victim’s family. He must be treated as A-2 (accused) in this case, and questioned for gathering evidence,” he said.

Questioning the police over the handling of the investigation, Praveen Kumar alleged a lack of transparency by the State police. He asked why DGP CV Anand, who held daily briefings as the then Hyderabad Police Commissioner during a previous high-profile crime against a foreign national at a pub, was now maintaining silence despite growing public concern.

“Not a single officer has been assigned to brief the media and inform citizens of the State on the progress of this investigation,” he said, questioning the need for such silence in the case.

The BRS leader hit out at the BJP IT cell and sections of the media for reducing the case to a debate over the victim’s age. “Even if she is eventually found to be a major, does she not deserve justice? Should the accused’s misconduct go unchallenged because of his father’s position as Union Minister of State for Home Affairs?” he asked.

Reacting to Telangana Rakshana Sena president K Kavitha’s recent remarks on the case, he criticised her for reading out scripts from the BJP and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy rather than reaching out to the victim’s family. “If she is not a robot, she must meet the victim and her mother, stand in their support rather than the accused,” he urged.

Invoking the Ramayana, Praveen Kumar said Bandi Sanjay, who claims to be a devotee of Lord Hanuman, had no right to chant that name, while threatening those supporting the victim. “The victim’s mother is living in constant fear for her daughter because of his remarks,” he said.

Praveen Kumar also countered Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi who alleged that the BRS leaders were suffering with dementia and claimed that the previous BRS government did not act against a POCSO case involving the then Wakf Board chairman’s minor son. “Not BRS leaders, but Owaisi appears to be suffering with Alzheimer’s. The police not only arrested the accused including the then Wakf Board chairman’s son and an AIMIM MLA’s son within three days, but they are also being tried as juveniles in court,” he said, reminding that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao made the Wakf Board chairman resign immediately.