Overview
- The POCSO case was registered at Pet Basheerabad police station on May 8 after the mother of a 17-year-old filed a complaint alleging repeated sexual assault by Bandi Bhageerath.
- Police arrested Bhageerath on the night of May 16 and a magistrate remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody after the Telangana High Court refused interim protection.
- Local courts on May 26–27 granted police a short period of custody, reported as two to three days, to allow further interrogation while he remains lodged at Cherlapally Central Prison.
- Investigators seized his mobile phone, say they found erased data, and have added sections alleging destruction and tampering of evidence as they seek phone records and witness statements.
- Bhageerath has filed a counter-complaint alleging pressure, extortion and threats by the girl’s family, and the case is drawing heightened scrutiny because he is the son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar.