New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to rebel YSR Congress MP K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, who was arrested in a sedition case lodged by Andhra Pradesh Police against him.
"We are giving bail considering the health status of the petitioner. The charges are not serious enough to be taken into custody," the court maintained.
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"Raghu Ramakrishna Raju should cooperate in the investigation of the case. Investigating officers should inform the petitioner at least one day in advance. The petitioner may appear before the investigating officer in the presence of a legal advisor," the court added.
The apex court imposed several bail conditions on Raju, including that he would not give any interview to the media concerning the case.
A vacation bench of Justices Vineet Saran and B R Gavai, while referring to Raju's medical report received from the Army hospital at Secunderabad, said it cannot be ruled out that the MP was ill-treated in the custody.
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On May 17, the top court had ordered forthwith transfer of Raju to the Army hospital at Secunderabad in neighbouring Telangana for medical examination and hospitalization till further orders.
Raju, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Narsapuram parliamentary constituency in Andhra Pradesh, alleged that the sedition case has been lodged against him by state police "because of political vendetta" as he has been criticizing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and "the action of his own party".
(with agency inputs)
