'Relationship was consensual': Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son seeks anticipatory bail in Pocso case in Telangana high court

HYDERABAD: Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son, Bandi Sai Bageerath, moved the Telangana high court seeking an interim anticipatory bail in connection with a case against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for allegedly misbehaving with a 17-year-old girl and sexually harassing her.The matter was expected to come up soon before the vacation bench.In his petition, Bageerath, 23 contended that the girl whom he was accused to have harassed sexually was not a minor at the time of the alleged incidents, and that the allegations levelled against him were false and motivated by personal disputes between his family and the survivor’s family.He argued that the relationship between him and the girl was consensual and continued for a considerable period without any complaint being raised.He alleged that even after the girl’s family became aware of the relationship in January 2026, no police complaint was lodged immediately, and the case was filed only in May 2026 after disputes allegedly arose between the parties.He further alleged that prior complaints had already been lodged by him against the girl’s family over alleged extortion demands and threats of false implication. He claimed that the present FIR was filed as a retaliatory measure and sought protection from arrest.