The Arrest and Sedition Charges

Raju, elected from the Narasapuram Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 on a YSRCP ticket, later emerged as a vocal critic of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration. His sharp opposition, particularly against the government’s decision to introduce English as the primary medium in all government schools, led to multiple cases against him.

On May 14, 2021, Raju was arrested on sedition charges after allegedly making inflammatory remarks against certain communities. His arrest came shortly after he filed a plea in a CBI court in Hyderabad seeking the cancellation of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s bail in a disproportionate assets case. Following his arrest, Raju was taken to the Andhra Pradesh CID office in Guntur.

Allegations of Custodial Torture

In a formal complaint filed on July 12, 2024, at Nagarampalem police station in Guntur, Raju alleged that he was subjected to brutal custodial torture by senior CID officials, including former CID chief P V Sunil Kumar and former Intelligence IG PSR Anjaneyulu. According to his complaint, he was physically assaulted with belts and lathis and was denied critical medication following heart surgery. These allegations led to widespread outrage and demands for an independent probe.

Summoning of IPS Officer M Sunil Kumar Naik

M Sunil Kumar Naik, a 2005 batch IPS officer, was serving as the DIG of CID in Andhra Pradesh at the time of Raju’s arrest. He was on deputation from Bihar between 2019 and 2022 and is currently posted as IG-cum-Director-cum-State Fire Officer of the Bihar Fire Services. The Andhra Pradesh police have now summoned him to record his statement regarding the custodial torture allegations.

Political Implications and Legal Repercussions

Raju, who has since joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and now serves as the Deputy Speaker, has continued his legal and political battle against the previous YSRCP regime. His claims of police brutality have added fuel to ongoing political tensions in the state.

With the Andhra Pradesh police summoning key officials, the case is set to have significant legal and political ramifications. The response from the accused officers and the judiciary’s stance on the matter will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.