Hyderabad/Medchal: In a development that has sparked fresh political and public debate, Bhagirath Bandi, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has been granted interim bail by the Medchal-Malkajgiri court in a POCSO case after spending nearly a month in judicial custody.
The case was registered on May 8 at the Pet Basheerabad Police Station following a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old minor girl. Serious allegations were made against Bhagirath under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Facing mounting legal pressure, Bhagirath surrendered before police on May 16, after which the Medchal-Malkajgiri court remanded him to judicial custody. Investigators alleged that he had maintained an inappropriate relationship with the minor and subjected her to sexual harassment.
The court had earlier rejected his bail plea on three separate occasions, citing the gravity of the allegations and the fact that the complainant was a minor. However, in a significant turn of events, the court has now granted interim bail, allowing temporary relief while legal proceedings continue.
The decision is expected to trigger intense political reactions, with opposition parties likely to question the circumstances under which interim bail was granted in a case involving serious allegations under the POCSO Act.
Legal experts note that the grant of interim bail does not amount to acquittal and that the investigation and trial process will continue.
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