HC dismisses anticipatory bail plea of Vijay Paul

Vijayawada: The high court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail petition filed by R Vijay Paul, a former ASP rank officer in the crime investigation department (CID), in the case concerning Undi MLA K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju. The court observed that when serious allegations are made against a senior police officer, the law demands a different and strict standard when considering a plea for pre-arrest bail and dismissed the petition.
Raghu Ramakrishna lodged a complaint with Nagarampalem police in Guntur alleging that a murder attempt was made, besides subjecting him to third-degree custodial torture by the then CID officials, including its chief PV Sunil Kumar and then ASP Vijay Paul, at the behest of then chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Following the complaint, Paul moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail. Senior counsel P Veera Reddy, arguing on his behalf, stating that the FIR was registered three years after the alleged offence. He said the allegations are vague and sought anticipatory bail.
Senior counsel Siddharth Luthra, arguing on behalf of the state govt, said the person who was supposed to uphold the rule of law has become a lawbreaker, and pre-arrest bail should not be granted. He said that the injuries on Raghu Ramakrishna's body were even noticed by the supreme court after he was examined by the army hospital in Secunderabad. He further argued that the petitioner submitted that he would cooperate with the investigation, but is not available at the address provided in the petition to send notices, an indication that he is likely to abscond.
PVG Umesh Chandra, arguing on behalf of Raghu Ramakrishna, said granting pre-arrest bail in cases of this nature, where a Member of Parliament (Raju was Narsapuram MP at the time) was tortured by police at the behest of the then political establishment, would be against public interest.
While dismissing the petition, Justice VRK Krupa Sagar said as the petitioner was in full control of the place where the alleged offence took place, the need for investigative interaction seems eminently required in cases of this nature.