Amaravati, March 5 — M. Sunil Kumar Naik, a Bihar cadre IPS officer and current Director of Fire Services in Bihar, appeared before Andhra Pradesh Police on Thursday for questioning in the alleged custodial torture of former Member of Parliament K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju. Raju, now the Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, was allegedly tortured in police custody in 2021 under the YSR Congress Party government.

Legal Proceedings and Court Directives

Sunil Kumar Naik reached the Central Crime Station in Guntur at 10 a.m. on Thursday for questioning by Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police A. R. Damodar, the investigating officer in the case. The questioning was expected to continue until 5 p.m.

Naik appeared before the police at the direction of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had granted him interim protection in his anticipatory bail petition on Monday. However, the court directed him to appear before the investigation officer on or before March 5. Despite notices issued to him, Andhra Pradesh Police had arrested Sunil Naik in Patna on February 23. A Patna court, however, rejected the police’s plea for a transit warrant.

Following this, the police approached a court in Guntur, which issued an arrest warrant for Naik on February 26. Naik subsequently moved the High Court for anticipatory bail, with his counsel arguing that the case against him was politically motivated.

Justice Venkata Jyothirmayee Prathapa of the High Court directed Naik to appear before the investigating officer on or before March 5 and whenever summoned. The court adjourned further hearings to March 9.

Background of the Custodial Torture Case

Raghurama Krishna Raju, the former MP, was arrested on May 14, 2021, in Hyderabad for speaking against the government and allegedly inciting communal unrest. At the time, he was a Lok Sabha member elected on a YSRCP ticket from Narsapuram in 2019 but later became a rebel. He later joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) before the 2024 elections and was elected to the Assembly, eventually becoming Deputy Speaker.

Raju filed an FIR in July 2024 against Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, three IPS officers, and others, alleging an attempt on his life during police custody. Sunil Naik, who served on deputation as the DIG of the A.P Crime Investigation Department (CID) at the time of Raju’s arrest, returned to Bihar in 2024.

The case has drawn attention to the legal and political dynamics surrounding custodial torture in India, where such incidents are often shrouded in secrecy and lack of transparency. According to the National Human Rights Commission, there were 3,217 cases of custodial deaths reported between 2018 and 2022, though many remain unresolved.

Implications and Next Steps

The ongoing legal proceedings could have significant implications for the credibility of law enforcement in Andhra Pradesh and the broader issue of custodial torture in India. The High Court’s decision to allow Naik to appear before the investigation officer on March 5 marks a critical phase in the case.

Analysts have noted that the case highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in police custody procedures. ‘The fact that a senior IPS officer is being questioned in this case sends a strong message about the judiciary’s commitment to justice,’ said a legal expert in Hyderabad.

With the next hearing scheduled for March 9, the outcome of the investigation will be closely watched. The case also raises questions about the political motivations behind the FIR and the role of law enforcement in handling politically sensitive cases.

The incident has reignited discussions about the need for legislative reforms to prevent custodial torture, with several advocacy groups calling for stricter oversight mechanisms and enhanced legal protections for detainees.