Kurnool: Retired AP CID Additional SP R. Vijay Paul, accused in the custodial torture case involving AP Deputy Speaker K. Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, was arrested by Prakasam district police late Tuesday night following extensive interrogation. Vijay Paul had appeared before Prakasam District SP Damodar earlier in the day for questioning.
The interrogation began at 11 a.m. and continued throughout the day, culminating in Vijay Paul’s arrest at 9 p.m. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed Vijay Paul’s petition for anticipatory bail in the case, prompting him to appear for questioning.
The case dates back to 2021 when CID officials filed charges against Raghu Rama Krishna Raju for allegedly making controversial remarks against the then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Raju was forcibly taken from his residence in Hyderabad to the Guntur CID Regional Office, where he alleged he was subjected to third-degree assault and attempted murder.
On July 11 this year, Raju lodged a complaint with the Guntur Nagarampalem police station against several individuals, including then CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, former CID Chief P.V. Sunil Kumar, Intelligence Head P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, CID Additional SP Vijay Paul, and GGH Superintendent Prabhavathi.
Following the complaint, a case was registered, and Vijay Paul’s request for anticipatory bail was rejected by the High Court. On October 1, he approached the Supreme Court, which issued interim orders protecting him from immediate arrest. However, on Monday, a two-judge bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Prasanna B. Varale dismissed his petition after hearing arguments from both sides. In light of the dismissal, the police intensified their investigation, leading to Vijay Paul’s arrest on Tuesday evening.
