Guntur Court Postpones NBW Hearing for IPS Officer Sunil Naik to Friday
In a dramatic development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding Bihar cadre IPS officer Sunil Naik, the Guntur court on Thursday deferred further proceedings on a plea for issuing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him. The hearing has been rescheduled for Friday, following last-minute arguments presented by Naik's legal counsel.
Intensifying Proceedings in Custodial Torture Case
This latest twist unfolds amid escalating legal actions in the alleged custodial torture case linked to former Narasapuram MP and current Andhra Pradesh deputy speaker K Raghurama Krishna Raju. During the court session, Nagarampalem police officials informed the bench that Naik had repeatedly failed to appear for questioning, despite being served notices on three separate occasions. They emphasized his lack of cooperation with the investigation and urged the court to take coercive measures to ensure his presence.
Counsel's Intervention and Patna Court Protection
However, in a late intervention, Naik's counsel requested the court to hear their arguments before issuing any orders. The lawyer submitted that a court in Patna had previously directed that no coercive action, including arrest, be taken against Naik for a period of one month. He argued that this protective order remains in force and must be duly considered before proceeding further with the NBW plea.
Court's Decision and Case Background
With both sides presenting preliminary arguments, the court opted to continue the hearing on Friday, allowing for a more thorough examination of the legal complexities. The case traces back to 2021, when Raghurama Krishna Raju alleged custodial torture following his arrest over remarks against then Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during the previous YSRCP regime. After the NDA alliance came to power in 2024, a fresh FIR was filed, naming Naik and others as accused in the matter.
