Bandi Bhagirath Remanded in Judicial Custody in POCSO Case

Hyderabad: The accused in a widely publicised POCSO case that has drawn significant focus across the Telugu states, Bandi Bhagirath, has been placed under judicial remand after investigators completed their custody period. He was brought before the Nampally court on Wednesday, where his police custody term had expired.

The court subsequently ordered Bandi Bhagirath into judicial custody. Authorities have since transferred him to Cherlapally Central Prison with heightened security measures. The investigation concerns allegations of sexual assault perpetrated against a minor girl.

During the police custody phase, investigators worked to establish evidence and interrogate the accused regarding multiple dimensions of the case. Over this period, law enforcement officials gathered several vital pieces of information and material evidence pertinent to their investigation.

Questioning and Digital Evidence

On the first day of custody, Bandi Bhagirath was moved from Cherlapally prison to Medchal Government Hospital, where he underwent medical examinations. Subsequently, investigators accompanied him to Aranya Farmhouse in Moinabad, where they carried out a reconstruction of events to establish the factual sequence.

During the second day of custody, questioning took place at a service apartment in Gachibowli. Police confronted the accused with digital evidence comprising communications he allegedly had with the victim through Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat. His statements were documented during this interrogation.

Prior to this phase, investigators had obtained statements from the victim, her mother, and associates of the accused who had been present at the farmhouse. The investigation also involved examination of CCTV recordings, call data records and call recordings made available by the victim's mother. Police questioned the accused regarding these materials and documented his responses as part of the ongoing inquiry.