Why Did It Take 10 Days To Charge A Union Minister's Son With 'Repeated Rape'? Explained

Last Updated:May 18, 2026, 07:12 IST

From 'law is equal for all' to 'you will perish like Lanka' — Bandi Sanjay's words grew sharper as his son's charges grew graver.

Bandi Sai Bageerath, 25-year-old son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, was arrested by Cyberabad Police on May 17 in a POCSO case involving a 17-year-old girl. He is accused of sexually abusing the minor at least four times between October and December 2025. He has now been remanded to judicial custody till May 29 and shifted to Cherlapally Central Prison. The charges he faces carry a minimum of 10 years in prison, potentially extending to life.

The victim’s mother filed a three-page complaint at Petbasheerabad police station, alleging that Bageerath approached her minor daughter through mutual contacts in June 2025 — first in person, then via Instagram and Snapchat — and gradually drew her into a relationship before sexually abusing her repeatedly. After recording the girl’s statement, police upgraded the charges to include Section 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — the provision dealing with repeatedly raping the same woman.

‘You Will Perish’: What Did The Minister Say?

Bandi Sanjay has oscillated between restraint and rage. Initially, he publicly maintained that “law is equal for everyone" and that anyone found guilty must face punishment. But as political pressure mounted, his tone shifted sharply. He warned his rivals: “You have upset my supporters. You have put my party in a tight spot. You will perish in the fire you yourselves lit, like Hanuman did to Lanka."

Did PM Modi’s Hyderabad Visit Change Anything?

The case was filed on May 8 — just a day before PM Narendra Modi’s Hyderabad visit. The Telangana DGP said police hadn’t been able to act because they were tied up with security arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit.

Despite the controversy, Bandi Sanjay was among select invitees receiving Modi at Begumpet Airport and later participated in official and public meetings — a presence that raised eyebrows across political circles.

Police said it was only post the Modi visit that they appointed a woman IPS officer as investigating officer and dispatched five teams to trace Bageerath.

Why Did Social Media Explode?

Posters declaring “Bandi Bageerath is absconding" began appearing across Hyderabad, Nizamabad and other cities, appealing to citizens to inform police of his whereabouts.

While mainstream Telangana media initially stayed largely silent, alternative media and social media influencers picked up the story — though some began targeting the girl and her family, a move widely condemned.

His photos, videos, and the “repeat offender" angle spread rapidly online, turning Bageerath into a national talking point.

What Happens Next?

The Telangana High Court has reserved its order on Bageerath’s anticipatory bail application till May 21. A civil court has also issued an injunction against 23 news channels and media platforms, ordering them to remove content that Bandi Sanjay termed a “smear campaign."

Meanwhile, calls for the minister’s removal from Cabinet are growing, with opposition leaders arguing that a Union Minister of State for Home Affairs cannot credibly oversee law enforcement while his son is in custody on rape charges.

News cities hyderabad-news Why Did It Take 10 Days To Charge A Union Minister's Son With 'Repeated Rape'? Explained

Read More