Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday directed the state police chief to investigate a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act case filed against Bandi Bhagirath, the son of Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
The chief minister “questioned” Director General of Police CV Anand about the delay in taking action in the case despite the complaint having been registered at the Pet Basheerabad police station on Friday, stated Telangana’s public relations department.
The police chief briefed Reddy about the details of the case, it added. “The DGP informed the chief minister that the entire police force had been engaged in security arrangements in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Hyderabad,” said the department.
The chief minister instructed the police chief to constitute special teams for a comprehensive investigation into the case, it added.
On Sunday, Modi was in Hyderabad to inaugurate several development programmes and initiate the work of several infrastructure projects. The prime minister also spoke at a rally of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Bandi Sanjay Kamar attended Modi’s event on Sunday.
Allegations and counter-complaint
The parents of a girl, reported to be a 17-year-old, have alleged that Bhagirath befriended their daughter on the pretext of marriage and sexually assaulted her at a farmhouse in Moinabad on December 31, The Week reported.
They also claim that the girl had been forced to drink alcohol.
Bhagirath has also registered a complaint, accusing the girl and her family of blackmailing and extorting him of Rs 5 crore, The Week reported.
The Union minister’s son claimed that he had paid Rs 50,000 to the girl’s father under pressure, The Hindu reported. He claimed that after he refused to marry the girl, her family allegedly threatened to implicate him in false criminal cases, according to the newspaper.
Based on his complaint, the police registered a case of extortion and criminal intimidation against the girl and her parents, The Week reported.
A political row
The allegations and counter-allegations have triggered a political row in the state.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader RS Praveen Kumar alleged on Sunday that the mother of the girl had been made to wait at the police station for several hours. The delay was caused to allow Bhagirath to file his complaint first, The Week quoted him as having claimed.
The Communist Party of India has demanded that Bandi Sanjay Kumar must resign as the Union minister of state for home affairs and the Lok Sabha MP from Telangana’s Karimnagar.
On Sunday, BRS leader KT Rama Rao accused Bandi Sanjay Kumar of trying to “shield his son [by] abusing his position”. He added that the Congress government in the state was playing “mute and acts dumb” even after a Pocso case had been filed in the matter.
At a public meeting, Bandi Sanjay Kumar claimed that the allegations were politically motivated and that people should not believe in what he described as false propaganda, The New Indian Express reported. “I will never do anything that brings embarrassment to the BJP...” Bandi Sanjay Kumar was quoted as having said.
The Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and ordered action into the matter.
Written by Nachiket Deuskar. Edited by Sneha
Just 0.2% of readers pay for news. The others don’t care if it dies. You can help make a difference. Support independent journalism – join Scroll now.
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!