Hyderabad Police Invokes PD Act Against Habitual Offender With 15 Criminal Cases
The Hyderabad Police have invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against a 35-year-old man identified as Bojja Bhagyaraj, a resident of Chilakalguda, who has 15 criminal cases registered against him. The order was issued by Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar and executed by the Chilakalguda police on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Bhagyaraj is currently under judicial remand.
According to police records, Bhagyaraj has been booked in 15 cases across Hyderabad and Malkajgiri police commissionerates. The charges include attempt to murder, rioting, causing grievous hurt, criminal intimidation, and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He had previously been detained twice under the Prevention of Detention Act and was also bound over under Section 128 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain good behaviour. Police allege that he violated these conditions and continued to commit serious offences.
Specifically, Bhagyaraj is an accused in three attempt to murder cases registered at Chilakalguda police station in 2025 and 2026. He had secured conditional bail in two of these cases, but police say he breached the bail conditions and engaged in further criminal activities. The Preventive Detention Act, which allows for detention without trial for up to 12 months to prevent a person from acting in a manner prejudicial to public order, was invoked after a proposal prepared by Chilakalguda police was reviewed and approved by senior officers of the Secunderabad zone.
The police stated that the decision was taken to prevent Bhagyaraj from continuing his alleged criminal conduct, which they said posed a threat to public order. They reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against habitual offenders and warned that stringent action, including preventive detention, would continue against those found disturbing public peace.
The use of the PD Act has been a subject of debate, with civil liberties groups arguing that preventive detention can be misused. In this case, the police have cited the repeated nature of the alleged offences and the failure of earlier legal measures, such as bail and binding over, to deter the accused. The law requires that the detention order be reviewed by an advisory board within a specified period to ensure its validity.
