A Bihar cadre IPS officer, M. Sunil Kumar Naik, appeared before Andhra Pradesh Police for questioning regarding the alleged custodial torture of former Member of Parliament K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, who now serves as Deputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Naik, the Director of Fire Services in Bihar, was questioned by the Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police, A. R. Damodar, at the Central Crime Station in Guntur. The questioning, mandated by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, is expected to last until 5 p.m.
Sunil Naik had been arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police in Patna on February 23 for failing to comply with questioning notices. Despite a Patna court rejecting the police’s request for a transit warrant, a Guntur court issued an arrest warrant on February 26. Naik, seeking anticipatory bail, argued that the case against him was politically motivated and that he was not directly implicated in the alleged custodial torture incident involving Raju. The High Court granted him interim protection but ordered his appearance before the investigation officer by March 5.
Raghurama Krishna Raju, the former MP, was reportedly subjected to custodial torture in 2021 during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party. Initially elected on a YSRCP ticket, Raju later joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and became Deputy Speaker after the 2024 elections. The case stems from Raju’s arrest for criticizing the then Chief Minister and allegedly inciting communal tensions. Naik, who previously served in Andhra Pradesh, was implicated in the case due to his involvement in Raju’s transfer from Hyderabad to Guntur.
