KTR Targets Revanth Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Over POCSO Case Handling

BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Friday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar over the handling of the POCSO case registered against the latter’s son, alleging that the accused was deliberately protected for several days.

Reacting to remarks made by the Chief Minister a day earlier, KTR alleged that the state government failed to act promptly despite the seriousness of the allegations involving a minor girl. He claimed the accused was “shielded for nine days” and questioned why police action was delayed.

Addressing the media, KTR asked whether the police would have shown similar restraint if the accused belonged to an ordinary family. He alleged that in a similar case involving a common citizen, the police would have acted immediately and completed the initial investigation within hours.

The BRS leader further alleged that political considerations and personal ties between Revanth Reddy and Bandi Sanjay influenced the handling of the case. He referred to reports claiming that the accused had stayed at a hospital linked to a person close to the Chief Minister and demanded a thorough inquiry into the matter.

KTR also accused the government of attempting to discredit the victim’s family by referring to the case as a “honey trap”. He alleged that the victim’s parents were made to wait at a police station for hours and said public outrage and court observations eventually forced the authorities to arrest the accused.

Criticising the explanation that police personnel were occupied due to the Prime Minister’s visit, KTR termed it an “unacceptable excuse” in a case involving serious allegations under the POCSO Act .

He also targeted Bandi Sanjay , questioning the contradiction between obtaining legal protection distancing himself from the case and later claiming responsibility for presenting his son before the police. In a personal counterattack, KTR remarked that unlike others, he would never deny his relationship with his family members, referring to his father, former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, and his son Himanshu.

Mocking the BJP’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” slogan, KTR said the situation reflected “Beta Bachao, Beta Bhagao”. He questioned how an impartial investigation could take place while Bandi Sanjay continued as a Union Minister.

KTR also praised R. S. Praveen Kumar for persistently raising the issue and criticised remarks made against him by the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing investigation, the accused, Bandi Sai Bhageerath , was remanded to judicial custody until May 29. His counsel stated that he had voluntarily appeared before the police and was cooperating fully with the investigation, expressing confidence that he would be cleared through the legal process.

Separately, KTR accused the Congress government of mishandling the ongoing crop procurement process across Telangana. He demanded that the government release a white paper with detailed procurement figures and challenged the Chief Minister’s claim that 80 per cent of procurement had been completed.

According to KTR, the actual procurement on the ground was far lower, with several centres yet to begin full operations. He alleged that farmers were facing long delays, shortage of gunny bags and basic infrastructure, and were being forced to sell produce to middlemen at lower prices.

The BRS leader said protests by farmers were taking place in multiple districts, including in the Chief Minister’s own Kodangal constituency. He accused the government of ignoring mounting distress among farmers and urged the state Cabinet to treat the procurement crisis as a priority issue.