Case Filed Against Sharing Victim's Photos in Bandi Bageerath Sexual Assault Case

On May 15, the Pet Basheerabad police in Hyderabad registered a case against social media handlers who circulated photos, videos, and identifying details of a girl allegedly sexually assaulted by Bandi Bageerath. The case was filed under sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following a complaint by the Chairperson of the Medchal Malkajgiri Child Welfare Committee. Police warned the public against sharing such content, stating it causes severe emotional distress to the victim and is a serious legal violation.

A POCSO case was registered against Bandi Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay, on May 8. The family of a 17-year-old girl alleged that Bageerath made her consume alcohol and sexually assaulted her at a farmhouse on two occasions. In response, Bageerath filed a counter-complaint in Karimnagar, alleging extortion and intimidation by the girl and her parents. He claimed the girl's family pressured him to marry her and demanded money after he refused, threatening to file false complaints if he did not comply.

Following Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's orders, a Special Investigation Team was formed, led by Kukatpally Deputy Commissioner of Police Ritiraj. On May 12, police altered the charges from harassment of a child to aggravated penetrative sexual assault. The same day, Bageerath approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim bail, with the case set to be heard on Friday.