Andhra Pradesh Police Interrogate Bihar IPS Officer in High-Profile Custodial Torture Case
In a significant development, the Andhra Pradesh police conducted a four-hour questioning session with Bihar cadre IPS officer M Sunil Kumar Naik on Sunday. The interrogation took place at the Mahila police station in Vizianagaram and was led by Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police A R Damodar, who is the investigating officer in the case.
Background of the Alleged Custodial Torture Incident
The case stems from a complaint filed by former Narsapur MP and current assembly deputy speaker Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju. A formal case was registered at the Nagarampalem police station following allegations of custodial torture during the previous YSRCP government's tenure.
Raju was arrested in May 2021 from his residence in Hyderabad while serving as the Narsapur MP. He was subsequently transferred to the CID regional office in Guntur, where he was reportedly detained overnight. During this period, Raju alleges he was subjected to custodial torture by CID officials, including former chief P V Sunil Kumar and others.
Multiple Lines of Inquiry During Interrogation
During the extensive questioning session, AP police officials pursued several lines of inquiry with Sunil Kumar Naik, who currently serves as the director of fire services in Bihar. One significant area of investigation concerned the registration of cases against two Telugu news television channels during the YSRCP regime.
"Though all Telugu news channels broadcast the alleged hate speeches of Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, Sunil Naik registered cases against only two news channels," explained investigating officer Damodar. "His justification was that those particular channels aired the content for longer durations."
The police also questioned Naik about his alleged involvement in the conspiracy surrounding Raju's torture. "We have questioned Sunil Naik over the alleged conspiracy in the torture of Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju," Damodar confirmed.
Unanswered Questions and Investigative Challenges
Despite thorough questioning on multiple fronts, Sunil Kumar Naik reportedly did not provide answers to several crucial questions posed by investigators. These included inquiries about:
- Failure to arrange medical assistance for Raju, who had undergone surgery in 2021, during his arrest and transfer from Hyderabad to Guntur
- Absence of CCTV camera arrangements during Raju's interrogation sessions
- Specific details about the alleged conspiracy in the custodial torture case
Legal Proceedings and Anticipatory Bail Petition
In related legal developments, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has reserved its orders on the anticipatory bail petition filed by Sunil Kumar Naik. After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court has adjourned the matter to April 6 for further consideration.
The case continues to unfold as investigators piece together events from the YSRCP regime period, with Sunday's interrogation marking a crucial step in determining the extent of involvement of various officials in the alleged custodial torture incident.
