Hyderabad: BRS General Secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar questioned the alleged POCSO case delay in registering a case against the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay.
Speaking at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Saturday, Praveen Kumar referred to reports connected to an alleged incident involving a 17-year-old girl. He asked why police did not promptly register the case despite the seriousness of the allegations.
He alleged that Bhagirath forced the minor girl to consume alcohol before the alleged assault. Moreover, he demanded clarity on the timeline of police action and sought an explanation for the delay.
Praveen Kumar dismissed claims suggesting that Bhagirath feared the minor girl. In addition, he cited earlier incidents at Mahindra University and alleged that police had registered two FIRs against Bhagirath in student assault cases.
He questioned whether a person with such allegations would fear a 17-year-old minor. Furthermore, he claimed that a former V6 journalist who later joined the BJP attempted to intervene in the matter.
According to him, the journalist met the girl’s parents at a police station around 10 pm on Friday and allegedly urged them to withdraw the complaint. He also accused political influence in the handling of the case.
POCSO case delay allegations raise legal concerns
Praveen Kumar alleged that Bandi Sanjay influenced the filing of a counter-case against the girl in April. However, neither Bandi Sanjay nor his son issued a public response at the time of reporting.
He also criticised the sections invoked by police, stating that Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act carried lighter punishment provisions. According to him, those sections allowed easier access to station bail.
Moreover, he alleged that authorities handled the matter lightly and sent the wrong message through their actions. He demanded transparency in the investigation and accountability in cases involving minors.
