POCSO case: Rama Rao says fair probe impossible unless Bandi Sanjay removed from cabinet
Hyderabad (PTI): BRS Working President K T Rama Rao on Sunday called for the immediate removal of Bandi Sanjay Kumar from the union cabinet following the arrest of his son, Bageerath, in a POCSO case, arguing that the minister’s continuation in office could hinder a fair and impartial investigation.
A day after the Telangana High Court refused to grant interim protection from arrest to Bageerath, he was arrested on Saturday night in connection with the case registered against him.
He was later remanded to judicial custody by a magistrate.
Addressing a party event in LB Nagar, Rama Rao stated that PM Narendra Modi frequently speaks about “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (save the daughter, educate the daughter), but justice cannot be achieved if such slogans remain mere political rhetoric.
“Perhaps for the first time in the country, a situation has arisen where a lookout notice has been issued against the son of a union minister. If he (Bandi Sanjay) is not dismissed from the union cabinet, the investigation will not proceed properly,” he claimed.
The BRS leader questioned how the accused allegedly remained hidden for nine days and asked who had protected him during that period.
Rama Rao asserted that an impartial investigation would be impossible while Bandi Sanjay Kumar continues in office, and demanded that the central government immediately remove him from the union cabinet.
He said that individuals accused of “misusing power and influence in such sensitive matters” continuing to hold constitutional positions is not only an insult to Telangana, but also to the entire country.
He also alleged that while the union minister’s son wronged a minor girl, the victim’s parents were subjected to intimidation and pressure by the minister himself.
Rama Rao further alleged that Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy attempted to “dilute the seriousness” of the case.
Calling for immediate action, he reiterated that the union minister should be removed from office and that the investigation must be conducted in a transparent and impartial manner.
He added that BRS women leaders had protested across the state and praised the efforts of the party’s women’s wing, women leaders, activists, student organisations, and social media activists for pursuing justice in the case.
The case was registered on May 8 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against Bageerath, based on a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl.
She alleged that he had been in a relationship with her daughter and had sexually harassed her.
After recording the victim’s statement, police invoked more stringent sections of the POCSO Act in the case.
Bageerath also filed a counter-complaint, alleging that the girl, who had become acquainted with him, had invited him to family functions and group gatherings.
An FIR was subsequently registered based on his complaint.
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Explainer: CBSE's three-language formula for Class 9; What does it mean, what changes?
New Delhi (PTI): Two months after beginning of the 2026-27 academic session, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has notified implementation of the three-language formula for Class 9 from July 1, 2026.
Here is an explainer of what the formula is:
1. What is three-language formula?
The three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends that students learn three languages, at least two of which must be native to India. This formula applies to both government and private schools, giving states the flexibility to choose languages without any imposition.
2. What is the history of three-language formula?
The formula was first proposed by the Education Commission (1964-66), officially known as the Kothari Commission. It was formally adopted in the National Policy on Education (NPE) 1968 under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The policy was reaffirmed in NPE 1986 under PM Rajiv Gandhi and revised in 1992 by Narasimha Rao’s Congress government to promote linguistic diversity and national unity.
The formula included three languages -- mother tongue or regional language, official language and a modern Indian or European language.
3. What does NEP 2020 say about the three-language formula?
The NEP proposes an “early implementation of the three-language formula to promote multilingualism" from the school level. The document states that the three-language formula will continue to be implemented "while keeping in mind the constitutional provisions, aspirations of the people, regions, and the Union, and the need to promote multilingualism as well as promote national unity”.
However, the NEP also states that there will be greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any state.
The policy states that the three languages learned by children will be the choices of states, regions, and of course, the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India.
4. What about foreign languages?
According to NEP 2020, in addition to Indian languages and English, students at the secondary level can also learn Korean, Japanese, French, German and Spanish, among other foreign languages.
However, a key shift in the curriculum is the classification of English as a foreign language, with the Board allowing only one foreign language within the three-language framework. This could restrict students from choosing both English and another foreign language as their second and third languages.
5. Are books ready?
The board has said till the dedicated R3 textbooks are available, Class 9 students shall use the Class 6 R3 textbooks (2026-27 edition) of the chosen language.
The board has further said schools facing a shortage of adequately-qualified native Indian language teachers may, as an interim arrangement, engage existing teachers of other subjects who possess functional proficiency in the language concerned.
6. What is the controversy about three language formula?
The three-language formula has been at the centre of the political row between the former DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the Centre.
The state has historically opposed the three-language formula. In 1937, the then Madras government, headed by C Rajagopalachari, introduced compulsory Hindi in schools. This move sparked widespread protests by the Justice Party and Dravidian leaders like Periyar. The policy was revoked in 1940, but anti-Hindi sentiments persisted.
When the three-language formula was introduced in 1968, Tamil Nadu opposed it, seeing it as an attempt to impose Hindi. Under Chief Minister C N Annadurai, the state adopted a two-language policy, teaching only Tamil and English.
Tamil Nadu remains the only state that has never implemented the three-language formula, choosing English over Indian languages, including Hindi and other regional languages.
