In a stunning development, M. Sunil Nayak, Inspector General of Bihar’s Fire Services Department, has been arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police from Patna. The arrest stems from a 2021 custodial torture case involving former MP K. Raghurama Krishna Raju. Prakasham district police are now preparing to take him to Andhra Pradesh on transit remand.
Nayak, a 2005-batch IPS officer from Bihar cadre but originally from Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, faces charges under IPC Section 307 for attempt to murder. The case originates from his time on deputation in Andhra Pradesh’s CID in 2021, when a team under his directions arrested Raju, now Deputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly, in a serious criminal matter.
Raju alleged brutal assault by the CID team during custody, leading to a court-ordered FIR against Nayak under the grave section. After serving nearly three years in Andhra’s CID as DIG, Nayak returned to Bihar in 2023 following the TDP government’s formation in 2024. His bail in the case was recently cancelled, prompting the police team to Patna.
Nayak joined IPS service on December 12, 2005, and held several SP positions in Bihar before his 2019 inter-cadre deputation for personal reasons, effective from January 7, 2020. In Bihar Fire Services, he oversaw operations, modernization, resource management, and training amid ongoing infrastructure expansions.
Post-arrest, police will produce him in Patna court seeking transit remand to escort him to Prakasham for further proceedings. This high-profile arrest highlights lingering tensions from 2021 investigations that sparked political controversies over CID actions and alleged custodial excesses.
The case underscores challenges in inter-state police deployments and accountability in high-stakes probes involving political figures. As Nayak’s career faces this setback, questions arise on the implications for Bihar’s fire safety leadership and the broader IPS framework.