The Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday clarified that the protection of those in the police custody is in the hands of the police. The court said that the police have to provide security and take care of the safety of those in the custody.
The court made these comments in the anticipatory bail petition of former CID additional SP, Vijayapal, in the former MP and present MLA K Raghurama Krishnam Raju case. Raghurama Krishnam Raju had filed a case in the Nagarampalem police station in Guntur seeking action against those who were responsible for torturing him when he was arrested in May 2021.
Raghurama Krishnam Raju alleged that then chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, then CID chief P V Sunil Kumar, Intelligence wing chief P S R Anjaneyulu and CID additional SP Vijaypal were responsible for torturing him in the custody. He said that he was taken to the CID office in Guntur in May 2021 and was tortured in the custody. He sought action against Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sunil Kumar, Anjaneyulu and Vijaypal.
Senior advocate P Veera Reddy argued for petitioner Vijaypal. He said that the case was related to three years ago. He alleged that Raghurama Krishnam Raju remained silent for three years and filed a case now as his party formed the government. He further said that his client, Vijaypal is 63 year old man and is ailing from illhealth. He promised that his client would cooperate with the investigating agencies in the case.
Arguing for the police, Supreme Court advocate Siddhartha Luthra and public prosecutor M Lakshminarayana said that the police have violated the law when Raghurama Krishnam Raju was arrested. Vijaypal was the investigating officer when Raghurama Krishnam Raju was arrested. He would be held responsible for the safety and security of the person arrested.
Vijaypal should be taken into custody and interrogated for the arrest and torture of Raghurama Krishnam Raju. The advocates said that who ordered for the arrest and who ordered for torture of Raghurama Krishma Raju are to be known and action should be taken against everyone who is responsible.
Judge, Justice V R K Krupasagar, after hearing the arguments, posted the judgment to September 24.
