Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh: In a significant development, the state police have served a notice to Bihar cadre IPS officer Sunil Naik, directing him to appear for questioning in connection with the alleged attempt on the life of the current Assembly Deputy Speaker, K. Raghurama Krishna Raju. The notice was issued by A.R. Damodhar, the Superintendent of Police of Prakasam district and the investigating officer in the case.
Naik, who previously served as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Andhra Pradesh, is being questioned about his alleged role in the incident that occurred during Raju’s arrest in 2021. At the time, Raju, who was a Member of Parliament (MP), was detained and allegedly tortured while in police custody when the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government was in power.
The controversy surrounding Raju’s arrest centers on allegations that he was subjected to severe physical abuse while in custody, leading to claims of an attempted murder. In 2022, Raju filed a complaint accusing certain police officers, including the then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, of orchestrating the plot to endanger his life while he was under police custody.
Sunil Naik, an IPS officer from Bihar, had come to Andhra Pradesh on deputation in 2019 and served as the DIG of CID. However, in 2023, he was transferred back to Bihar, where he now serves as the DIG of Fire Services. The notice to Naik is part of ongoing investigations into the allegations that he was one of the officers present during Raju’s transfer to the CID office in Guntur after his arrest from Hyderabad.
The investigation comes in the wake of a formal FIR filed by the Andhra Pradesh police in July 2024. The FIR was registered based on a complaint by Raghurama Krishna Raju, who reiterated his claims of an attempt on his life during police detention. The FIR names the then CID Chief P.V. Sunil Kumar and other officers involved in the alleged assault. According to Raju, he was tortured using rubber belts and sticks, and he was denied his necessary medications, even though he had undergone bypass surgery. He further claimed that during the incident, some officers sat on his chest, applying pressure, which he believes was a deliberate attempt to kill him.
This case has drawn significant attention, with political ramifications involving the YSRCP leadership. The investigation continues to unfold as the Prakasam district police look into the involvement of all individuals implicated in the case.
In a related development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently dismissed the bail petition of K. Tulasi Babu, a YSRCP leader accused in the case. Tulasi Babu had been arrested in January 2025 and has been repeatedly questioned along with another individual, Vijay Paul, regarding the allegations.
As the investigation progresses, the focus will be on determining the extent of Naik’s involvement and whether any further legal actions will be taken against those implicated in this high-profile case.
