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New Delhi: The Telangana high court on Friday (May 15) denied to grant interim protection from arrest to Bandi Sai Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Bhageerath is accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl between October and December 2025. As per reports, the two met through mutual friends in June last year. The girl’s mother lodged a complaint at the Petbasheerabad police station on May 8, saying that Bhageerath had subjected her daughter to repeated sexual abuse and emotional blackmail. The complaint also alleged that Bhageerath isolated the survivor and controlled her career decisions.

Her mother explained that a man named Sangappa, said to be a former journalist turned Bharatiya Janata Party leader, approached the family and tried to arrange a meeting with union minister Bandi Sanjay, during which they were intimidated through political influence.

Initially booked under charges of assault or using criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, including provisions of the POCSO Act, Bhageerath was later charged with aggravated sexual assault under the POCSO Act after the survivor’s statement was recorded.

Bhageerath has also filed an extortion case against........

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