The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a CBI investigation into Dr.Sudhakar’s case who had earlier been suspended for publicly criticizing the failure of the Government in providing N95 masks to the doctors treating COVID 19 patients.
The High Court has directed the CBI to submit the investigation report within eight weeks and to file a case against the Visakhapatnam police officers who allegedly manhandled Dr. Sudhakar while taking him into custody.
On the previous occasion the High Court had directed the Sessions Judge of Visakhapatnam to record the statement of Dr.Rao who is presently in the Government Hospital for Mental Health in Visakhapatnam.
The sessions Judge submitted its report which stated that there were six injury marks on Dr.Rao’s body.
On May 16, videos of Dr Sudhakar being manhandled by the Visakhapatnam Police was widely circulated on social media which grabbed the attention of the general public.
Two months ago Dr Sudhakar Rao, a Civil Assistant surgeon, Area Hospital, Narsimhapatnam was suspended for speaking against the government.
Thereafter he was arrested on May 16 under Section 353 of IPC for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty and section 427 of IPC for causing mischief, where he was seen shirtless being dragged by the Police, the video of which has gone viral on social media.
Dr Rao was admitted to King George Hospital where he was found inebriated and was referred to Government Hospital for mental Health where he is undergoing treatment for acute and transient psychosis.
Meanwhile the Indian Medical Association in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister Y.S.Jagan Reddy has condemned the mishandling of Dr Rao by the police.
-India Legal Bureau