The Telangana police on Saturday evening arrested Bandi Sai Bhageerath, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in connection with a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case.

“The accused was apprehended at the end of a manhunt at 8.15 pm on Saturday and taken to Petbasheerabad police station,” M Ramesh, the Cyberabad Commissioner of Police, told The Indian Express. Bhageerath will be sent for medical examination and produced before a local magistrate in Hyderabad, the commissioner said.

The minister, however, said his son had appeared for police questioning of his own volition. “In light of the allegations levelled against my son and out of deep respect for the law, I have today, through our legal counsel, handed him over to the police for interrogation.”

He said that his son “has been repeatedly asserting that he has committed no wrongdoing”. “As soon as the complaint was lodged, I intended to hand him over at the police station immediately. However, we consulted with our lawyers, and he presented the evidence in our possession before them. Upon reviewing the evidence, the lawyers expressed confidence that the case would likely be quashed and that bail would certainly be granted. That is why there was a slight delay,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Telangana police had issued a Look Out Circular (LoC) against Bhageerath and conducted searches at his father’s home in Karimnagar, his relative’s residence in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills, and his friends’ homes in Yousufguda.

Bhageerath is accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old between October and December 2025. The two had allegedly met through mutual friends in June 2025.

In a complaint lodged at the Petbasheerabad police station on May 8, the girl’s mother alleged that Bhageerath subjected her to repeated sexual abuse and emotional blackmail. According to the complaint, he allegedly isolated her and controlled her educational career decisions.

Police initially booked Bhageerath under charges of assault or using criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty and sexual harassment, along with provisions of the POCSO Act. Later, once the girl’s statement was recorded, the police added the charge of aggravated sexual assault under the POCSO Act.

The Telangana High Court had on Friday night refused to give Bhageerath interim protection from arrest.

His counsel, senior advocate S Niranjan Reddy, had argued that the police be directed not to arrest him, adding that stringent conditions may be imposed during the interim period. However, at the end of the hearing, which lasted over two hours, Justice T Madhavi Devi said, “I have gone through the statement of the victim, though not in detail but cursorily, and at this stage, I’m not inclined to grant any interim order.”

The hearing on the case began on a dramatic note, with the court observing that there was “a smear campaign” on social media which suggested that the judge had been “influenced” in the high-profile case. “I’m not shying away from hearing the matter. I will pass orders. But this is not done,” she said.

The judge asked the girl’s counsel if they had any reservations about arguing the case before this court, to which the counsel said no and that the court may hear the matter.

Thereafter, senior advocate Reddy specifically referred to cases where interim anticipatory bail was granted for POCSO offences. He also submitted that after the FIR was filed in the present case, a statement by the girl had been given and improvements were made, wherein the original offence did not allege penetrative sexual assault.

“If the original offence is not alleging penetrative sexual assault, then can it be thought that subsequent improvement evokes any suspicion in your ladyship’s mind. My lord may grant me that benefit of doubt,” Reddy argued in court.

Bhageerath also filed a complaint accusing the girl’s family of an extortion attempt. He alleged that the family was forcing him to marry her or pay up Rs 5 crore.

Meanwhile, the State’s counsel submitted that the girl was a minor and said that there was no question of granting anticipatory bail in a POCSO case. The counsel further pointed out that the petitioner has an influential background. “What will be the fear in the mind of the victim?” the counsel said.