IPS officer served notice in Andhra Pradesh Dy Speaker’s 2021 custodial torture case

Prakasam’s Superintendent of Police AR Damodhar, who is the investigating officer, has sent notice to Naik, who was serving as DIG, CID when Raju, then an MP, was arrested and allegedly tortured in police custody

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh Police have served notice to Bihar cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sunil Naik for questioning in the case relating to the alleged attempt on the life of present Assembly Deputy Speaker K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju.

Prakasam’s Superintendent of Police AR Damodhar, who is the investigating officer, has sent notice to Naik, who was serving as DIG, CID when Raju, then an MP, was arrested and allegedly tortured in police custody. Raju was arrested and allegedly tortured in police custody in 2021 when the YSR Congress Party was in power.

Last year, Raju lodged a complaint against some police officers and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the alleged attempt to murder during YSR Congress Party rule.

Naik, who is an IPS officer of Bihar cadre, had come to Andhra Pradesh on deputation and was appointed DIG, CID in 2019. In 2023, he was sent back to Bihar and is currently serving as the DIG, Fire Services in that State.

The Prakasam district SP is likely to question Naik about his role in the case. He was allegedly one of the officers present when Raju was brought to the CID office in Guntur after his arrest from Hyderabad.

In July 2024, police registered an FIR against Jagan Mohan Reddy, two IPS officers, and others on a complaint by Raju, who alleged that there was an attempt on his life during police custody.

Police registered the FIR against then CID chief PV Sunil Kumar, then Intelligence chief Seetharamanjaneyulu, then Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, then Additional SP R Vijaya Paul, then Superintendent of Government General Hospital Guntur, Dr Prabhavati and others.