TD MLA files case against Jagan Reddy, senior cops

VIJAYAWADA: The AP police has booked senior IPS officers and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on a criminal complaint by TD Undi legislator Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju

alleging custodial torture in May 2021 in connection with a sedition case.

Raju filed a criminal case against senior IPS officer P.V. Sunil Kumar and implicated YSRC party president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleging that it was at his behest that the CID police tortured him.

The Nagarapalem police in Guntur registered a case under Section 120B, 166, 167, 197, 307, 326, 465 and 508 (34) against Sunil Kumar and others.

While Sunil Kumar was named as Accused 1 (A-1), another IPS officer, P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, who was then intelligence chief, was A-2, Jagan Mohan Reddy the A-3 and then additional SP in CID R Vijaya Paul the A-4. Former Guntur general hospital superintendent Dr Prabhavati was named as A-5.

Raju alleged that he was subjected to third-degree torture while in state CID custody. He said a false case had been foisted upon him as part of “a criminal conspiracy.”

MLA Raju said he was arrested without due process on May 14, 2021. There was no medical examination or adherence to proper legal procedures. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the top police officials tried to kill him in custody, he alleged.

Raju alleged that during his detention at the AP-CID office in Mangalagiri, he was subjected to physical abuse. He was beaten up with a rubber belt and lathi. An attempt was made to “suffocate him by sitting on his chest”. He added, “I firmly believe it was an attempt to murder me.”

The MLA alleged that Dr Prabhavathi, who examined him before producing him in a court, colluded with Sunil Kumar and furnished “falsified medical reports, stating that there were no injuries on his body.”