Andhra Police continue questioning Bihar IGP for second day in ex-MP’s torture case

Bihar IG Sunil Kumar Naik appeared before Guntur’s Central Crime Station for a second day of questioning in the alleged custodial torture case of former MP K. Raghurama Krishna Raju. The probe follows Andhra Pradesh High Court directions amid Naik’s anticipatory bail plea

Amaravati: Bihar Inspector General of Police, Sunil Kumar Naik appeared before Andhra Pradesh police for second consecutive day on Friday for questioning in the alleged custodial torture of former Member of Parliament K. Raghurama Krishna Raju.

The Bihar cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer reached Central Crime Station, Guntur at 10 pm. The questioning will continue till 5 pm., a police officer said. Sunil Naik is being questioned by a police team by Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police AR Damodar, who is the investigating officer in the case.

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Naik, who is the Director of Fire Services in Bihar, was questioned for seven hours on Thursday.

As per the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court, he has to appear before police every day till March 9, when hearing will resume on his petition for anticipatory bail. The Guntur Police last year booked former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and three IPS officers, including Sunil Naik, for the alleged torture of Raghurama Krishna Raju in 2021 during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party government.

Raju, then a rebel MP of YSRCP, was arrested for alleged derogatory remarks against then Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Naik was on deputation in Andhra Pradesh and was serving as Deputy Inspector General in the Crime Investigation Department (CID).

The IPS officer is currently serving as the Director of Bihar State Fire Services while Raju is the Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Raju was elected to the Lok Sabha on a YSRCP ticket from Narsapuram in 2019, but he later turned a rebel. He was arrested on May 14, 2021, at his residence in Hyderabad and was brought to Guntur.

Raju joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) just before the 2024 elections and was elected to the Assembly. After TDP-led coalition came to power, he became Deputy Speaker. On a complaint by Raju, who alleged that there was an attempt on his life during police custody, a case was registered against Jagan Mohan Reddy, three IPS officers, and others.

Andhra Pradesh Police had arrested Sunil Naik in Patna on February 23 as he was not appearing for questioning despite notices issued to him. However, a Patna court rejected the police plea for his transit warrant.

Following this, the police had approached a court in Guntur, which issued an arrest warrant on February 26. The IPS officer had also moved the High Court for anticipatory bail. His counsel had argued that the case against him was politically motivated.

The court was told that the petitioner had only arrested Raju in Hyderabad in connection with a case and shifted him to Guntur. He denied involvement in the alleged custodial torture of the then MP. While granting interim protection, the High Court had directed him to appear before the investigation officer.