The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday made a significant observation, stating that an attack on a Member of Parliament (MP) would be tantamount to an attack on the sovereignty of Parliament itself. The court further remarked that there is little difference between those who physically attack Parliament and those who subject an MP to custodial torture.
Anticipatory Bail Plea Heard
The court was hearing the anticipatory bail plea of IPS officer Sunil Kumar Naik, who faces allegations in a custodial torture case involving former MP and current Andhra Pradesh Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Raghurama Krishna Raju. Justice Y. Lakshmana Rao questioned whether pre-arrest bail should serve as a shield for an IPS officer facing such serious allegations.
Role of the IPS Officer
The High Court noted that Sunil Kumar, a Bihar cadre IPS officer currently serving as Inspector General of Bihar Fire Services and Home Guards in Patna, appeared to have played a key role in the episode, either directly or indirectly. At the time of the incident, he was on inter-cadre deputation to Andhra Pradesh. The court observed that he was well aware of what was going to happen to the MP when he was taken into custody. “A senior police officer should have exercised restraint and ensured that such incidents did not occur,” Justice Rao remarked.
Court's Queries
The court also asked the petitioner's counsel whether Naik intended to surrender before the investigating authorities or continue pursuing anticipatory bail. “When will he surrender?” the court asked categorically, indicating that voluntarily surrendering could be a better course of action under the circumstances. As Sunil Kumar's counsel sought time to obtain instructions from his client, the High Court adjourned the hearing to Friday.
Background of the Case
The case stems from the alleged custodial torture of Raju in 2021 after his arrest by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (AP-CID) during the YSRCP government’s tenure. Raju, who was the Lok Sabha MP from Narasapuram at the time, was arrested on May 14, 2021, on charges of sedition (inciting hatred against the state). He alleged that CID officers tied his legs and used rubber belts and batons to assault him inside the AP-CID office in Mangalagiri. He was elected on a YSRCP ticket to the Lok Sabha but later began criticizing the YSRCP government and its president and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Post-Government Change
Following the change of government in Andhra Pradesh, Raju, who is now the MLA from Undi, lodged a complaint at Nagarampalem police station in Guntur on July 11, 2024. Subsequently, an attempt-to-murder case was registered against former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with several high-ranking IPS officers, including Sunil Kumar.
