In an interesting turn in the case involving the arrest of Bandi Bhageerath in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl, the Special Investigation Team probing the case has invoked an additional section under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against him, which could lead to life imprisonment if the charges are proved.
While the Pet Basheerabad police had already booked Bhageerath under multiple stringent provisions, including sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, authorities have now invoked a more severe provision - Section 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The new section deals with repeated sexual assault on the same minor girl.
“Section 64(2)(m) is a stringent provision applicable in cases involving repeated rape of the same woman. Legal experts say that if the allegations are proved in court, the accused could face a minimum imprisonment of 10 years, which may extend up to life imprisonment,” sources said.
At present, Bhageerath has been booked under BNS Sections 64(2)(m), 74 and 75, along with Sections 5(l) read with 6 of the POCSO Act.
The case was initially registered at the Pet Basheerabad Police Station on May 8, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reportedly directed Director General of Police C V Anand to constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter.
Police arrested Bhageerath on May 16 and seized his iPhone the same night. The device has since been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for detailed examination.
SIT officials are closely scrutinising chats, messages, videos and photographs allegedly exchanged between Bhageerath and the victim.
Investigators are also analysing CCTV footage collected from locations linked to the alleged incident. Officials believe the forensic report could reveal further crucial evidence in the case.
Meanwhile, police are also probing the alleged involvement of Bhageerath’s friends.
In her complaint, the victim’s mother alleged that some of Bhageerath’s associates were present during the incident and later attempted to suppress the matter and broker a settlement to prevent it from becoming public.
She reportedly provided the police with the names of around 10 individuals allegedly connected to the settlement attempts.
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Sources said SIT officials are likely to question Bhageerath’s friends soon to establish the sequence of events and determine the extent of their involvement.
Bhageerath is currently lodged in Cherlapally Jail as a remand prisoner, and police are expected to seek his custody for further interrogation in the coming days.
