Lookout notice issued in POCSO case; Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son surrenders before police

HYDERABAD: Union Minister's son surrendered before the police after being accused in the sexual assault case of a 17-year-old girl. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son, Sai Bhagirath (25), was arrested. The police registered a case against Bhagirath on May 8 based on the complaint filed by the girl's mother. Initially, the charge of rape was filed, but later, after recording the statement of the girl, serious charges, including sexual assault, were added to the case.

Bhagirath met the girl through friends in June 2025. The mother of the victim alleged in her complaint that he sexually abused and raped her four times between October and December. The Hyderabad Police issued a lookout notice to prevent the accused from leaving the country and had formed a special investigation team to nab him. The arrest was registered shortly after the Telangana High Court refused to grant interim relief after considering the anticipatory bail plea filed by the accused seeking protection from arrest. The court observed that protection from arrest cannot be granted.

Following his son's arrest, Bandi Sanjay came forward with a response through X. The Union Minister noted in X that everyone is equal before the law, whether it is his own son or a common citizen. The defence pointed out that granting bail to the accused would lead to influencing witnesses and threatening the victim's family.

Meanwhile, Bhagirath argues that this case is a honeytrap and part of an attempt to extort money. Bhagirath claimed that he had earlier approached the police, saying that the girl and her family were forcing him to marry her and threatening him with Rs five crore compensation. The Union Minister also clarified that this is false propaganda being spread by the opposition parties. The High Court will consider Bhagirath's anticipatory bail plea again on May 21.