Hyderabad, May 12 (IANS) Cyberabad Police of Telangana on Tuesday served notice to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son Bandi Bhagirath in the POCSO case registered against him four days ago.
Bhagirath has been directed to appear before the police on Wednesday afternoon.
The Central minister’s son has been asked to appear at 2 p.m. at Pet Basheerabad Police Station, where a case was registered against him on May 8.
The police served the notice at Bandi Sanjay’s house in Karimnagar. As Bhagirath was not at home, the police handed over the notice to the family members.
The Station House Officer (SHO) said in the notice that failure to comply with the notice may result in legal action being initiated against Bhagirath.
A case was registered against Bandi Bhagirath on May 8 at the Pet Basheerabad Police Station of Cyberabad Commissionerate under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl.
On a complaint by the victim’s mother, the police registered a case under Section 11 r/w 12 of the POCSO Act and sections 74 and 75 of BNS.
A few hours earlier, Bhagirath, 25, had lodged a complaint at the Karimnagar II Town Police Station against the girl and her parents. He alleged that they attempted to honeytrap him and demanded Rs 5 crore for not filing a police complaint against him.
On his complaint, a case was booked against the girl and her parents under various sections of the BNS for extortion, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and common intention.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday asked Director General of Police C. V. Anand to immediately initiate an investigation into the POCSO case registered.
The DGP was directed to constitute special teams for a comprehensive investigation into the case of the alleged sexual assault on a minor girl by Bandi Bhagirath.
Following the Chief Minister’s direction, Cyberabad Police Commissioner asked Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj to personally supervise the investigation in the case.
The DCP, who visited Pet Basheerbad Police Station to take stock of the investigation on Monday, said they recorded the victim’s statement, but they need some more information. She said she would talk to her.
Hinting that the accused is absconding, she said that if the police find the accused, they would definitely arrest him.
She said the police were trying to gather information about the accused by analysing his Call Detail Record.
Bhagirath approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail.
Due to the ongoing summer holiday for the High Court, the petition has been filed before the Vacation Bench. The petition will come up for hearing on May 14.
Bandi Sanjay has denied the allegation against his son. He claimed that political rivals were trying to tarnish his image by making false allegations.
Addressing the ‘Hindu Ekta’ rally in Karimnagar on Tuesday, Bandi Sanjay said his son denied doing any wrong.
The MoS stated that if his son committed a mistake, he must definitely be punished. “My son says he has not done anything wrong. They are trying to portray my son as a criminal,” added Sanjay, who is MP from Karimnagar.
–IANS
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