New Delhi:

The Supreme Court today granted bail to Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju, the Narsapuram MP of the YSR Congress, a week after he was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for sedition. His arrest on May 14 followed weeks after he asked a CBI special court to cancel the bail granted to his party founder, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, in a disproportionate assets case.

Releasing 59-year-old, the Supreme Court today said, “In our view, considering the injuries reported by the Army Hospital, prima facie we find that there is a possibility that the petitioner was ill-treated while in custody.”

The court had ordered his medical examination after the MP filed a petition alleging that he was assaulted by the Andhra CID.

Photos of welts on Mr Raju’s feet had gone viral on social media. The YSR Congress, however,  said an examination by a team of doctors from Guntur Government Hospital had revealed he had a pre-existing medical condition that caused the reddening of his feet and legs.

Mr Raju was arrested from his residence in Hyderabad for allegedly acting in a way detrimental to the prestige of the state government.

On April 27, he had asked a special CBI special court to cancel the bail granted to Mr Reddy in a disproportionate assets case from 2012. He had claimed that the Chief Minister had violated the bail provisions. His allegations against Mr Reddy’s government include that of corruption.

Setting the condition for his bail today, the Supreme Court said Mr Raju will cooperate with police and present himself when called for interrogation. The petitioner shall be given 24 hours’ notice by the investigating officer.

He is not allowed to meet the print or electronic media on any of the subjects relating to the case.