Telangana High Court Grants Bail To Union Minister's Son Bandi Bageerath In POCSO Case, Restrains Him From Making Public Statements

The Telangana High Court on Thursday (July 9) granted bail to Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in POCSO case taking note of the prosecution's submission that the probe was almost completed and observed that apprehension of influencing of witnesses can be curbed by imposing stringent conditions. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 99] Besides directing him not to contact the victim or witnesses, the High Court restrained the petitioner from making any public statement or posting any content relating to the case on social media or through the press until the conclusion of the trial.Allowing the bail petition, Justice K. Sujana observed that the accused had been in jail for 55 days and 25 witnesses having been already examined, further incarceration was not necessary; meanwhile the prosecution submitted that the probe was almost completed. "… the primary objection of de facto complainant is that though the prosecution submits that the investigation in the case is completed, it is to be seen that the victim herself, and the names referred to by her, who are common friends of accused and victim, are not examined as on today, and on that sole ground itself, it can be said that the investigation is not yet completed. However, it is the specific stand of learned Public Prosecutor that the averments of counter would clearly show that investigation in the case is almost completed, except for filing of chargesheet...Considering the facts and circumstances of the case in their entirety, and keeping in view the apprehensions expressed by the de facto complainant, this Court is of the considered opinion that the same can be adequately addressed by imposing stringent conditions."On the complainant's grievance egarding the manner of investigation the court said that it is always open to her to avail the remedy before the appropriate forum, in accordance with law, at the appropriate stage. It held that the apprehensions expressed by the de facto complainant "can be adequately addressed by imposing stringent conditions" and accordingly deemed it fit to enlarge the petitioner on bail.Among various conditions imposed on Bageerath the court directed:1.The petitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, contact, approach, communicate with, or attempt to influence the victim, the de facto complainant, or any of the prosecution witnesses, in any manner whatsoever. 2. The petitioner shall not visit the locality, educational institution, residence, workplace, or any place frequented by the victim or the de facto complainant, except for attending Court or when specifically permitted by law. 3. The petitioner shall not indulge in any act of intimidation, inducement, threat, coercion, harassment, or abuse, either personally or through any third party, against the victim, the de facto complainant, or any witness in the case. 4. The petitioner shall not make any public statement, post, upload, share, forward, or circulate any content, whether textual, audio, visual, or electronic, concerning the facts of the case, the victim, the de facto complainant, or the witnesses, on any social media platform or otherwise. 5. The petitioner shall not give interviews, press statements, podcasts, public comments, or media briefings, directly or indirectly, in relation to the present crime or the subject matter thereof, until conclusion of trialThe petitioner is booked under various offences under BNS Sections 64(2)(m) (rape of a minor), 74 (assault or use of criminal force to outrage a woman's modesty), 75 (sexual harassment), and POCSO Sections 5(l) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault committed repeatedly on the same child) read with 6 . According to the complaint lodged by the mother, the alleged victim aged 17 years, became acquainted with the petitioner through mutual friends and social media in June 2025. It is alleged that the petitioner developed a relationship with her on a false promise of marriage, controlled her movements and subjected her to repeated sexual assault on different occasions.The Court noted that while the de facto complainant questioned the completion of the investigation, the Public Prosecutor had specifically stated that the investigation was "almost completed, except for filing of chargesheet." The Court also recorded that the prosecution had produced, in a sealed cover, the statement recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita along with the Forensic Science Laboratory report. As regards the grievance regarding the manner of investigation, the Court observed that it was "always open" to the de facto complainant to avail the appropriate remedy before the appropriate forum in accordance with law.Granting bail, the Court directed the petitioner to execute a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with two sureties for a like sum each, to the satisfaction of the trial court, subject to various conditions. The plea was allowed. In May the high court had refused...

Telangana High Court Grants Bail To Union Minister's Son Bandi Bageerath In POCSO Case, Restrains Him From Making Public Statements

Ananya Tangri

This is a premium content
Available exclusively to
Our subscribers

INR 1099+GST

Tags

Ananya Tangri

Telangana High Court Grants Bail To Union Minister's Son Bandi Bageerath In POCSO Case, Restrains Him From Making Public Statements

Ananya Tangri

This is a premium content Available exclusively to Our subscribers

INR 1099+GST

Tags

Ananya Tangri

This is a premium content
Available exclusively to
Our subscribers