Retired Andhra IPS officer seeks CBI intervention over witness intimidation
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Amaravati, Aug 1 : Retired Director General of Police P.V. Sunil Kumar has written to the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), seeking urgent intervention over an alleged attempt to intimidate a witness and interfere with evidence in two ongoing CBI investigations.
In his complaint, Sunil Kumar referred to a news report in a vernacular daily stating that Madala Srinivas had lodged a complaint with Pattabhipuram Police Station alleging that Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju attempted to kidnap him in connection with records sought by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and that he feared for his life.
Raghu Rama Krishna Raju is the Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The cases were booked against him when he was a Member of Parliament.
Sunil Kumar stated that the reported incident assumes serious significance in the context of the pending CBI cases of 2019 and 2021, which relate to allegations of cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust and misuse of public funds involving substantial financial losses.
He pointed out that any attempt to influence witnesses, suppress records or tamper with evidence could undermine the integrity of the investigation. Referring to Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, he said the law empowers investigating agencies to take appropriate coercive action, including arrest where necessary, to prevent destruction of evidence or intimidation of witnesses.
Sunil Kumar cautioned that failure to act promptly in such circumstances could discourage other witnesses from cooperating with investigators and erode public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the investigation.
He emphasised that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
In his representation, he requested the CBI to take cognisance of the reported incident, secure all relevant records and electronic evidence, examine whether any attempt had been made to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses, consider coercive action in accordance with Section 35 of the BNSS wherever the statutory conditions are met, and take all other necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing investigations.
The letter mentioned that the 2019 case concerned alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy involving public funds of Rs 947.71 crore, while the 2021 case relates to alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal misconduct with a stated loss of Rs 237.84 crore.
Sunil Kumar was Director General, AP State Disaster Response Force and Fire Services when he was transferred soon after the TDP-led coalition government came to power in 2024.
He was one of the IPS officers shunted by the coalition government, amid allegations that they targeted TDP leaders when the YSR Congress Party was in power.
Sunil Kumar was chief of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) when TDP President and present Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders were booked on corruption charges.
In his complaint, Sunil Kumar referred to a news report in a vernacular daily stating that Madala Srinivas had lodged a complaint with Pattabhipuram Police Station alleging that Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju attempted to kidnap him in connection with records sought by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and that he feared for his life.
Raghu Rama Krishna Raju is the Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The cases were booked against him when he was a Member of Parliament.
Sunil Kumar stated that the reported incident assumes serious significance in the context of the pending CBI cases of 2019 and 2021, which relate to allegations of cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust and misuse of public funds involving substantial financial losses.
He pointed out that any attempt to influence witnesses, suppress records or tamper with evidence could undermine the integrity of the investigation. Referring to Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, he said the law empowers investigating agencies to take appropriate coercive action, including arrest where necessary, to prevent destruction of evidence or intimidation of witnesses.
Sunil Kumar cautioned that failure to act promptly in such circumstances could discourage other witnesses from cooperating with investigators and erode public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the investigation.
He emphasised that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
In his representation, he requested the CBI to take cognisance of the reported incident, secure all relevant records and electronic evidence, examine whether any attempt had been made to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses, consider coercive action in accordance with Section 35 of the BNSS wherever the statutory conditions are met, and take all other necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing investigations.
The letter mentioned that the 2019 case concerned alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy involving public funds of Rs 947.71 crore, while the 2021 case relates to alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal misconduct with a stated loss of Rs 237.84 crore.
Sunil Kumar was Director General, AP State Disaster Response Force and Fire Services when he was transferred soon after the TDP-led coalition government came to power in 2024.
He was one of the IPS officers shunted by the coalition government, amid allegations that they targeted TDP leaders when the YSR Congress Party was in power.
Sunil Kumar was chief of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) when TDP President and present Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders were booked on corruption charges.
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Note: The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the ap7am team.