HYDERABAD: Cyberabad Police, as part of the investigation into the Pocso case involving Union minister Bandi Sanjay’s son, Bandi Sai Bageerath, have altered the charges by adding Section 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to repeatedly raping the same woman. The offence carries a minimum punishment of 10 years’ jail, which may extend to life imprisonment. The other charges under Sections 74 and 75 of the BNS — relating to assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, and sexual harassment — along with Section 5 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) Act, have been retained.After taking Bageerath into custody on Saturday night, police formally declared his arrest and later produced him before the court. The magistrate remanded him in judicial custody till May 29. He was subsequently shifted to Cherlapally Central Prison amid tight security.Lawyers accompanying Bageerath at the time of his arrest said they were in the process of filing a bail petition. The case was originally registered on May 8 by Pet Basheerabad Police based on a complaint lodged by the survivor’s mother. Following the registration of the case, the accused allegedly went missing, and police said efforts to trace him proved unsuccessful. On Saturday night, he reportedly surrendered before the police at Manchirevula in Narsingi.Police clarified that, so far, only Bageerath has been named as an accused in the case and dismissed reports suggesting the involvement of additional accused persons as false information.
