The ongoing confrontation between Andhra Pradesh assembly deputy speaker K Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju and senior IPS officer P V Sunil Kumar has taken a fresh turn, with the former writing to the director general of police Harish K Gupta demanding that the IPS officer be sacked for violating the service rules.
RRR, who recently succeeded in pushing for further inquiry into allegations that he was tortured while in CID custody during the previous YSRCP government, took objections to a series of social media posts by Sunil Kumar who demanded that RRR should be sacked from the deputy speaker post due to his involvement in a bank fraud-related case.
Angered by these developments, RRR on Monday wrote a formal complaint to DGP Harish Gupta, seeking disciplinary action and dismissal of Sunil Kumar from service.
He accused the IPS officer of violating All-India services conduct rules by posting political content, videos, and allegations on social media platforms.
Raghurama submitted copies of PV Sunil Kumar’s posts on X and related videos as evidence.
In one of the videos, Sunil Kumar said the CBI has registered an FIR against RRR and the Supreme Court had “cleared” his arrest by vacating a stay and that would purportedly damage “brand Amaravati” and the image of the State.
“These sweeping assertions are presented as if they are established judicial findings. Any CBI FIR is only an allegation and is still sub judice; no competent court has convicted me in any such case to date. Statements that the offences “will definitely be proved” amount to prejudging a pending matter and interfering with administration of justice,” RRR said.
The deputy speaker said Sunil Kumar, despite being a suspended IPS officer, was repeatedly threatening to “file writs”, “get impleaded”, and “pursue cases” in a manner calculated to publicly portray him as guilty before any court has adjudicated the matter.
“He is using his past position and police background to lend undue credibility to his personal opinions, thereby misleading the public into believing that his statements carry official or quasi-official sanction,” he said.
He said a civil servant publicly commenting upon and demeaning a constitutional authority is violative of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules and undermines the fundamental values of impartiality, political neutrality, and anonymity expected of civil servants.
However, the issue has become sensitive as Dalit organisations have publicly come out in support of Sunil Kumar. Officials fear that any action against him could trigger wider political and social repercussions.
Sources indicate that the DGP is likely to consult the state government before taking any further steps, as the situation continues to escalate.