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Hyderabad: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son Bandi Sai Bhageerath was taken into custody by police in Hyderabad on Saturday evening (May 16) in what has turned out to be a high profile case following the booking of charges against the latter under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Earlier on Friday (May 15) , the Telangana high court had denied interim protection from arrest to Bhageerath.

Union minister Kumar issued a statement soon after, claiming that his son had “surrendered” at Pet Basheerabad police station where the case was booked. Beginning the release with the words “Satyamev jayathe”, he said “I sent my son to face investigation to avoid further delay out of respect for law. This was in spite of the likelihood of the court delivering its judgement in the bail application (of Bhageerath) on Monday (May 18).

Contrary to the claim of the minister, Cyberabad police commissioner M. Ramesh Reddy told reporters that Bhageerath was arrested near the State Police Academy at Narsingi. He was shifted to Pet Basheerabad police station en route to the magistrate’s house.

Union minister Kumar’s statement went on to say that he kept his word of treating his son like any other person before law. “All of us have to abide by law. My son has been repeatedly telling me that he did no wrong. In fact, I wanted to surrender him at the police station as soon as the complaint was received against him. We consulted lawyers and presented all evidence before them. On perusal, they told me that the case will not stand legal scrutiny........

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