Amid intensifying political controversy over a POCSO case involving Bandi Sai Bageerath, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday firmly distanced itself from the issue, asserting that it has no direct role in the matter.
In a strongly worded statement issued on May 22, the Telangana unit of the RSS accused sections of the media of engaging in “false propaganda” by attempting to link the organisation and its functionaries to the controversy. The statement, released by Telangana Prant Sanghchalak B Sundar Reddy, categorically described the case as an “internal issue” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“The Sangh has no direct role in the organisational or internal matters of the BJP,” the statement read, underscoring the RSS’s effort to maintain distance from the political fallout.
The clarification comes at a time when the case has significantly escalated political tensions in Telangana, triggering sharp exchanges between the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the ruling Congress, and the BJP.
The RSS also objected to reports allegedly linking its Telangana office-bearers to the controversy, defending its members and accusing certain media outlets of attempting to malign their reputation through “baseless and malicious” reporting. It further warned of potential legal action if such coverage continued.
Bandi Sai Bageerath was arrested last week in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, after the Telangana High Court declined to grant him interim protection from arrest.
While Bandi Sanjay Kumar has maintained that his son cooperated voluntarily with investigators and alleged that the case is part of a politically motivated campaign, authorities have presented a different account. According to police, the accused was apprehended during a naka bandi (blockade) operation.
Addressing the media Thursday, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy rejected allegations of delay or procedural lapses in the handling of the sensitive case, asserting that due process was followed.
As the investigation continues, the case remains a flashpoint in Telangana’s political landscape, with competing narratives further deepening the divide among major political players.
Also read: Telangana reels under intense heat
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