Telangana High Court Grants Bail to Bandi Sai Bageerath
The Telangana High Court has granted bail to Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). The decision was delivered by Justice K Sujana on Thursday, acknowledging that the accused had been in custody for 55 days and that the investigation was nearing completion.
Justice Sujana stated, “The learned Public Prosecutor confirmed that the investigation is nearly complete, with only the filing of the chargesheet remaining.” The court addressed concerns from the complainant about potential interference with witnesses by imposing strict conditions on Bageerath’s bail.
Conditions Imposed on Bail
The court ordered Bageerath to refrain from direct or indirect contact with the victim, the complainant, or any prosecution witnesses. Additionally, he is prohibited from visiting any places associated with the victim or making public statements about the case, the victim, or the witnesses on any social media platform.
“The petitioner shall not give interviews, press statements, podcasts, public comments, or media briefings related to the present crime until the trial concludes,” the court directed.
Background of the Case
The case against Bageerath was initiated on May 8 following a complaint by a girl’s mother alleging sexual assault. After his arrest in mid-May, Bageerath was held in Cherlapally Central Prison. Prior to his arrest, he sought protection from the Telangana High Court, with his counsel arguing there was ambiguity about the complainant’s age and the applicability of the POCSO Act. They also claimed the relationship was consensual.
The prosecution, along with the complainant, countered these arguments, asserting that the girl was a minor and the charges were severe. On May 15, the High Court declined to grant interim protection from arrest, citing insufficient grounds for interference at that stage.
Legal Representation
Bageerath was represented by Senior Advocate T Niranjan Reddy and advocate C Sharan Reddy. The State was represented by Public Prosecutor Palle Nageshwar Rao, while Senior Counsel Pappu Nageshwar Rao and advocate V Mythili represented the complainant.
Last month, Bageerath was granted interim bail to attend his BBA supplementary exams. The High Court’s recent decision to grant bail includes stringent conditions to ensure compliance with legal proceedings.
[Read Order]
