SC orders Dr Prabhavati to appear in RRR case

The Supreme Court has directed former Guntur Government General Hospital superintendent Dr. Prabhavati to appear before the investigating officer on April 7 and 8 in connection with the custodial torture case filed by Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju. The court warned that her interim protection will be revoked if she fails to cooperate with the probe.

A bench comprising Justice Vikramanath and Justice K Viswanatham issued the order after senior government advocate Siddharth Luthra presented evidence that Prabhavati had repeatedly failed to cooperate with the investigation.

Dr. Prabhavati, who was the Superintendent of Guntur Government Hospital at the time, had reported that Raghurama suffered no injuries in custody. The government subsequently filed a case against her report, prompting Prabhavati to seek anticipatory bail in the AP High Court, which was denied. She then approached the Supreme Court, which granted interim protection while directing her to attend the hearings.

However, the AP government filed a fresh petition, arguing that Prabhavati had refused to appear before investigators despite being summoned multiple times. The court noted that she had responded through her lawyer and husband but avoided direct participation in the probe.

The Supreme Court has now mandated her presence at the designated police station at 10 AM on April 7 and 8. The bench made it clear that non-compliance would lead to the cancellation of her interim protection. The next hearing is scheduled for April 15.