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POCSO case: Telangana HC denies interim protection to minister's son Bageerath
Telangana High Court refused to grant interim protection from arrest to Bageerath in a POCSO case on May 15, 2026, after late-evening arguments. The hearing continued late into the night, with the court indicating that orders would be issued on the next vacation court day. The case had been registered on May 8, with the victim's statement recorded and stricter sections invoked.
Why It Matters
This is a high-profile legal proceeding involving a union minister's family in a sensitive child-sex case, illustrating how anticipatory bail and interim relief are handled in the courts and how public scrutiny can accompany such cases.
Timeline
4 Events
Smear campaign concerns and arguments about influence and evidence tampering
May 15, 2026
During the hearing, the victim's counsel cited potential tampering with evidence due to the accused’s influential father. The judge expressed concern about a smear campaign on social media and said she would not hear the case if the victim's counsel had reservations; the city police commissioner was informed.
HC denies interim protection; no interim relief granted
May 15, 2026
During a late-evening hearing, Justice T Madhavi Devi declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Bageerath. The court indicated that orders would be issued on the next vacation court day.
Court indicated it would pass orders on interim anticipatory bail on Friday
May 14, 2026
The Telangana High Court, while hearing the interim anticipatory bail petition, said it would pass orders on Friday.
FIR registered and victim's statement recorded; stringent sections invoked
May 8, 2026
The case was registered against Bageerath under the relevant sections of the BNS and POCSO Act on May 8, based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl. After recording the victim's statement, more stringent sections of the POCSO Act were invoked.