The Andhra Pradesh government has suspended senior IPS officer PV Sunil Kumar for allegedly undertaking multiple foreign trips without prior approval. Sunil Kumar, who previously led the Crime Investigation Department (CID) under the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government, was responsible for booking present Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and other Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders in corruption cases.
Suspension Over Unauthorized Foreign Travel
Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand issued the suspension order on March 2, citing violations of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules. Sunil Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer and a Director General of Police (DGP) rank officer, was awaiting posting after being transferred in June 2024 by the TDP-led government.
The government order (GO) listed multiple instances of alleged unauthorized foreign travel by Sunil Kumar:
📌 March 2024 – Approved to visit Georgia, but instead traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
📌 September 2023 – Traveled to Sweden without obtaining prior government approval.
📌 February 2023 – Stayed in the United States for a month without permission.
📌 December 2022 – Permitted to visit Georgia, but instead went to UAE.
📌 October 2021 – Undertook an unauthorized trip to UAE.
📌 December 2019 – January 2020 – Approved for the US, but traveled to the United Kingdom.
The GO emphasized that IPS officers must obtain prior approval for all foreign visits to ensure accountability, security compliance, and prevent conflicts of interest. The government found prima facie evidence that Sunil Kumar deliberately violated these regulations, showing gross negligence, indiscipline, and misconduct.
RS Praveen Kumar Alleges Caste Discrimination
The suspension has sparked controversy, with former IPS officer and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader RS Praveen Kumar alleging that Sunil Kumar is being targeted due to his Scheduled Caste (SC) background.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Praveen Kumar slammed the AP government, stating that the suspension was not just about procedural violations but caste-based discrimination. He wrote:
“They don’t want an SC officer to become the DGP of Andhra Pradesh. This suspension is nothing but a deliberate act of caste discrimination. The same government ignores massive corruption elsewhere but selectively punishes a Dalit officer. This is a blatant example of how the system is rigged against Dalits!”
His statement has intensified the political debate, with several Dalit rights activists and organizations questioning the motive behind the government’s action.
Pending Inquiry & Legal Troubles
As per the suspension order:
✅ Sunil Kumar will remain suspended until a detailed inquiry is completed.
✅ His headquarters during suspension will be Vijayawada.
✅ He cannot leave the city without prior government approval.
In January 2025, the state government had ordered an inquiry into allegations against Sunil Kumar. Special Chief Secretary, Revenue, RP Sisodia was appointed as the Inquiring Authority, while then-DGP Vigilance and Enforcement Harish Kumar Gupta was designated as the Presiding Officer.
Custodial Torture Allegations & Attempt to Murder Case
Sunil Kumar is also facing legal trouble over his role as CID Chief. In July 2024, he was booked for his alleged involvement in the custodial torture of K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, a former Member of Parliament and current Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
📌 Raju was arrested in 2021, during the YSRCP rule, and later claimed that he was tortured in police custody.
📌 After the TDP-led coalition came to power, an attempt to murder case was filed against:
🔹 Former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
🔹 Former CID Chief Sunil Kumar
🔹 Former Intelligence Chief Seetharamanjaneyulu
🔹 Former Additional SP R. Vijaya Paul
🔹 Former Guntur Government General Hospital Superintendent Dr. Prabhavati
With the TDP-led administration taking action against officials linked to cases against its leaders, Sunil Kumar’s suspension and legal troubles have now taken on a political and caste-based dimension, as allegations of bias and discrimination continue to emerge.
