In a significant escalation of a protracted political and legal battle, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju has formally requested the state police chief to initiate dismissal proceedings against suspended Indian Police Service (IPS) officer P V Sunil Kumar. This dramatic move follows a highly publicized and acrimonious exchange of allegations between the two on social media platforms.
Formal Complaint Lodged Over Defamatory Video
The flashpoint for the latest confrontation was a video released by the 1993-batch IPS officer on December 20. In a formal complaint addressed to the Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta, Deputy Speaker Raju accused Sunil Kumar of making what he termed as "false, reckless, and defamatory" statements. Raju contended that the officer's public commentary regarding an ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against him amounted to conducting a "media trial."
Raju argued that such actions by a civil servant, even while under suspension, were designed to prejudice judicial proceedings and exert undue pressure on investigative agencies. He emphasized that this behavior constitutes a serious breach of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, which govern the conduct of senior bureaucrats.
Roots of the Bitter Rivalry: From Sedition to Custodial Torture
The origins of this deep-seated enmity trace back to 2021. At that time, Raju was a Member of Parliament from the ruling YSR Congress Party but had turned a rebel critic. He was arrested by the state's Crime Investigation Department (CID), which was then headed by P V Sunil Kumar, on charges of sedition. Following his arrest, Raju made serious allegations of being subjected to brutal custodial torture.
These allegations later culminated in Raju filing an attempt-to-murder case, where he named Sunil Kumar as the prime accused (A1). The political landscape of Andhra Pradesh shifted with a change in government, and subsequently, Sunil Kumar was placed under suspension. While the official reason cited was unauthorized foreign travel, the pending investigation into the custodial torture allegations remains a core and unresolved issue fueling the conflict.
Social Media Clash and Counter-Allegations
The conflict reached a new peak on social media when Sunil Kumar posted a video suggesting that Raju's arrest by the CBI in a substantial Rs 945 crore bank fraud case was imminent. The suspended officer claimed that the Supreme Court had "cleared" the path for such action by vacating a stay on the First Information Report (FIR).
In a sharp counter-attack, Sunil Kumar demanded that Raju be stripped of his constitutional post as Deputy Speaker to guarantee what he called an "equitable and fair investigation." He drew a parallel to his own situation, arguing that he was suspended for a similar rationale concerning the custodial torture allegations. This tit-for-tat public sparring has transformed a legal feud into a full-blown political spectacle, drawing significant public attention in Andhra Pradesh.
The formal request for dismissal marks a new chapter in this ongoing saga, highlighting the intense personal and professional discord between a senior politician and a top police officer. The ball is now in the court of the state police leadership and potentially the government, which must decide on the next course of action amidst mounting political pressure and legal complexities.
