In an interesting development in the alleged “third degree” custodial torture of present Andhra Pradesh assembly deputy speaker K Ragh Ramakrishna Raju when he was a Lok Sabha member in 2021, the Andhra police on Monday took into custody a Bihar-cadre IPS officer Sunil Naik.
Naik was on deputation in AP during the YSRCP regime between 2019 and 2022 and was the deputy inspector general of the CID, when the police arrested Raju and allegedly subjected him to custodial torture.
There were allegations that Naik personally supervised the third-degree torture of Raju.
According to sources, a team of CID police from Andhra went to Patna on Sunday took Sunil Naik into custody.
Soon after detaining Sunil Naik, Andhra Pradesh police formally informed the Bihar government.
He was produced before a local court in Patna, where police sought a transit warrant to shift him to Andhra Pradesh for further investigation.
“However, Naik moved an anticipatory bail petition in the court to prevent his arrest and him being taken to Andhra Pradesh,” sources said.
The CID police said Naik was being arrested as he had failed to respond to several notices issued to him over the past few months asking him to appear for questioning in connection with the case.
During the YSRCP government, Sunil Naik had served on deputation as IG in the Andhra Pradesh CID. In 2021, when Raghurama Krishnam Raju was arrested in a sedition case, he alleged that he was subjected to third-degree torture while in CID custody.
In his complaint, Raghurama alleged that Sunil Naik played a key role in the custodial torture, including severe physical assault on his legs and mental harassment.
Based on these allegations, a case was registered and an investigation initiated against several officials, including Naik.
Sources indicate that more senior officials linked to the case may also face investigation in the coming days, potentially escalating the political and administrative fallout.