Supreme Court grants bail to rebel YSRCP MP Raghu Rama Krishna Raju in sedition case

The apex court imposed several bail conditions on Raju

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to YSR Congress MP Kanumuri Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju, prima facie finding that he was ill-treated and tortured after his arrest in a sedition case lodged for criticising his own party chief and Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

A bench of Justices Vineet Saran and B R Gavai directed for release of the rebel MP on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and one surety of the same amount with the conditions that he would cooperate in the investigation.

After going through the medical examination report of the petitioner by Army hospital, Secunderabad, the bench said, "We can form an opinion that he was tortured in police custody."

"We deem it fit to enlarge the petitioner on bail," the bench said, taking note of the health condition of the petitioner including that he has undergone by-pass surgery.

The court also told his counsel senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi to ensure that the lawmaker would not give any statement in media about the case or show his injuries allegedly sustained in custody to the press, saying it would be taken very seriously.

Narsapuram MP, Raju was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 14 for sedition, weeks after the rebel leader asked a CBI special court to cancel the bail granted to his party founder, Chief Minister Reddy, in a disproportionate assets case.

Rohatgi contended that the MP was arrested in a bogus case and a CBI probe should be ordered to unravel the truth. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the state government opposed the plea for bail, saying the petitioner was causing communal disharmony, inciting violence, and trying to de-establise the state government with his statements.

The court had on Monday ordered for giving medical care to Raju at an Army hospital in Secunderabad as he allegedly suffered custodial torture.