Breaking: Supreme Court orders YSR Congress MP Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju to be examined and admitted in Army Hospital, Secunderabad

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju, the Member of Parliament (MP) belonging to the YSR Congress party, be medically examined at Army Hospital, Secunderabad..While doing so, the Court did not grant bail to Raju, who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Friday on charges of sedition..As per the Court's order, this period of examination will be treated as judicial custody. The Telangana High Court was directed to nominate a judicial officer who will be with Raju during examination. Raju's medical examination will be videographed and the medical reports have to be submitted to the Court in a sealed cover..We direct that the petitioner-Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju shall be admitted in the Army Hospital and kept there for medical care until further orders, which shall be treated as judicial custody of the petitioner-Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju. The expenses, if any, for hospitalization in the Army Hospital shall be born by the petitioner-Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Rajureads the order.The top court has ordered that "Y category security, provided under orders of the Delhi High Court, shall escort Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju only till the Army Hospital and need not be present at the time of medical examination.".The medical examination of the petitioner shall be conducted by the medical board of three doctors of the hospital to be constituted by the head of the Army Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana, says the order..The order was passed by a Bench of Justices Vineet Saran and BR Gavai in an appeal filed by Raju against a May 15 order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court denying him bail in the sedition case lodged against him..Appearing for Raju, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi pleaded for ad interim bail and a medical examination of his client by a neutral or private hospital. The Court was informed that Raju had open heart surgery last year, which is why the magistrate ordered a medical check up by a government and a private hospital.He also argued that Raju never gave a call to arms or incited violence, which is a requirement to invoke the provision of sedition..Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, prayed that the matter be kept for Friday this week, as the State had not received a copy of the appeal. "Please keep the matter on Friday. I make a statement we will take him to AIIMS today itself. The examination can be in presence of a senior judicial officer. Raju is also a citizen and his rights too have to be upheld," he said..The Bench then adjourned for a brief period, and asked the petitioner to serve a copy of the plea to the respondents..When the hearing resumed, the Court was told that there is a hospital close to Vijayawada where Raju could be admitted. However, Rohatgi argued,"It may be best that AIIMS, New Delhi examines him. Regarding private hospital, someone may have some issues. [For] AIIMS Mangalgiri we have our own apprehensions. Governing body of AIIMS Mangalgiri has two prominent MPs of the ruling govt of AP."He added,"The accused had applied for cancellation of bail granted to the Chief Minister. This had wide ramifications. Let him travel to Delhi and get examined at AIIMS and be in house arrest till his bail plea is decided."Appearing for the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he had no objection to this arrangement..Justice Saran then said,"There is nothing political here. We will appoint a judicial officer in whose presence the exam can be conducted. State can file reply by Thursday and bail hearing can be on Friday.".The matter will be now heard on May 21..In his appeal before the Supreme Court, Raju stated that the High Court did not consider any of the grounds for bail and instead directed him to approach the sessions court for bail..The FIR was registered by the State CID on the basis of statements made by Raju on various digital platforms which the police claimed amounted to "hate speech" and creating enmity between castes and religions.Raju, who is an outspoken critic of his own party head and Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, had filed an application before a Special CBI Court a few weeks ago seeking cancellation of bail granted to Reddy in pending cases before the court..Raju contended before the Supreme Court that the CM is "misutilizing" the State Police to frame his political opponents and keep them in jail "so that they will not accuse him of being the person who had spent time in jail as an under trial."Further, it was contended that the High Court did not look into the facts and circumstances of the case and that his arrest would amount to violation of his freedom of speech and expression.He submitted that the present case is "nothing but a case of personal vendetta" of CM Reddy since Raju had filed an application seeking cancellation of bail granted to Reddy in cases against the CM..Raju in his plea also alleged indiscriminate beating by the police. .(Read order)