Petbasheerabad police on Friday (May 08) registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Bandi Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay, following a complaint by a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he sexually assaulted her at a farmhouse in Moinabad on December 31.

Hours earlier, at 5 p.m. on Friday, Bhageerath lodged a separate complaint at the Karimnagar Town-I Police Station alleging that he was being blackmailed and harassed by the girl’s family. Police officials said both the complaints were being investigated separately.

The complaint lodged at Petbasheerbad Police alleged that the incident took place during a visit to the farmhouse and that a case was registered after her family approached the police. Senior official close to the development said that the girl’s family arrived at the police station at around 8 p.m. and a manual FIR was registered at around 10 p.m.

In his complaint, Bhageerath alleged that he had come into contact with the girl through a common friend and that they later became part of a larger social circle. He stated that he was invited to family functions, group gatherings and trips to spiritual places along with other friends, including visits to Vijayawada, Arunachalam and Tirumala temples.

According to the complaint, Bhageerath alleged that after some time, the girl and her parents began putting pressure on him to marry her. He claimed that when he refused, the family allegedly threatened to implicate him in false criminal cases, including allegations relating to harassment and physical relationship.

He further alleged that the family demanded money from him and that, fearing consequences, he paid ₹50,000 to girl’s father. However, he claimed the demands escalated and that the family later sought ₹5 crore, allegedly threatening that girl’s mother would die by suicide if the amount was not paid.

Based on his complaint, a case was booked under Sections 308 (5) (extortion), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 61 (2) r/w 3 (5) (criminal conspiracy involving multiple persons) of the BNS and took up investigation.

However, the girl’s family subsequently approached Petbasheerabad police and filed a counter-complaint, alleging that the girl was a minor and accusing Bhageerath of sexually assaulting her. Following verification of her age, police booked a case under relevant POCSO provisions.