Police arrested Bageerath, he did not surrender: Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy clarified that in the POCSO case against Bandi Bageerath, the police themselves had arrested him as per procedure and he has not surrendered as is being claimed.

If Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar had voluntarily handed over his son to the police, authorities could have completed the process at his residence itself. Police arrested Bageerath while searching for him, said the Chief Minister — who is also Home Minister.

Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat in Hyderabad on Thursday (May 21, 2026), the Chief Minister said notices were issued to relevant persons and an inquiry was being conducted in the case involving Bageerath.

Mr. Reddy accused Opposition parties, particularly the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), of indulging in “debased politics” over sensitive issues, including the POCSO case and farmers’ concerns, while asserting that the police were strictly following legal procedures in all investigations.

He alleged that BRS leaders were behaving “like sadists” as though they had achieved something significant in the POCSO case. “If they want to do politics, they should defeat us in elections, but should not stoop to such levels,” he said.

Referring to another controversy, Mr. Reddy said notices were also served and inquiries conducted after drugs were allegedly found at a farmhouse linked to the brother-in-law of BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao.

“Why is KTR silent on this? Why is he not taking any action against the former BRS MLA caught in the drug case in the farmhouse?” he asked.

He accused BRS leaders of having lost their sense of humanity and attempting to exploit every issue politically. The Chief Minister further alleged that the BRS was trying to play “corpse politics” over issues concerning farmers.

“If the opposition is genuinely concerned about farmers, they should offer constructive suggestions and advice to the government instead of politicising tragedies,” he remarked.

Targeting the BRS leadership, Mr. Reddy said Mr. Rama Rao still appeared to believe he was living under the “Kalvakuntla Constitution,” despite former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao stepping down long ago.

Caste census is our success

On the issue of caste census, the Chief Minister welcomed the Supreme Court’s observations and said the Telangana government considered it an honour that the Supreme Court had supported the State’s decision.

He stated that Telangana had emerged as a model for the country by conducting caste census along with the general census and placing all details before the public.

Mr. Reddy urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government to immediately include caste enumeration in the national census to ensure proper representation for weaker sections in all sectors.

He accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre of viewing public issues and even international conflicts through a political lens.

The Chief Minister also criticised the Centre over the increase in fuel prices, alleging that petrol and diesel prices were being raised repeatedly after elections. In contrast, he said, the Telangana government was taking decisions with a long-term vision, citing the recent hike in minimum wages for workers as an example.