Vijayawada, June 24: The Gade Sai Krishna case took a major turn after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) informed a Vijayawada court that Sai Krishna died in police custody.
The SIT submitted its remand report before the court on Wednesday. Based on the findings, police arrested suspended Krishnalanka Circle Inspector (CI) S.S.V.V. Nagaraju, the main accused in the case.
SIT Changes Direction of the Case
The SIT said Sai Krishna’s case was not a missing person case. Investigators concluded that he died while in police custody. Sai Krishna, 25, faced a few criminal cases. Police personnel picked him up from Markapuram on May 9, 2026, based on a non-bailable warrant. They later brought him to the Krishnalanka Police Station in Vijayawada.
SIT Alleges Custodial Torture
Investigators said police did not follow the normal legal process after bringing Sai Krishna to the station. The SIT report alleged that officers kept him in illegal custody. The report also stated that he faced severe physical torture. According to investigators, the torture led to his death.
Probe Expands to Cover-Up Allegations
The SIT is now examining how people tried to hide the crime. Investigators are questioning police station staff, task force personnel, and others linked to the case. They are also checking how people disposed of the body and whether anyone helped destroy evidence.
Court Orders Protection of Evidence
The Vijayawada Second Additional Judicial Magistrate Court directed officials to protect all important evidence. The court ordered authorities to preserve CCTV footage and telecom call records connected to the case. Investigators will use these records during the ongoing probe.
Mother’s Plea Brought Attention to the Case
The case gained public attention after Sai Krishna’s mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court. She filed a habeas corpus petition after authorities failed to explain her son’s whereabouts. Her petition increased pressure on officials and pushed the investigation forward.
Nagaraju Arrested After SIT Investigation
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the case after it attracted public attention. The Director General of Police later suspended CI Nagaraju. The government then formed a four-member SIT led by Inspector General M. Ravi Prakash. The SIT arrested Nagaraju from a hideout in Ajit Singh Nagar in Vijayawada.
Investigation Still Underway
The SIT continues to investigate the case. Officials are collecting witness statements, CCTV footage, and call records. Investigators are trying to identify everyone involved in the alleged custodial death and cover-up. The case has become one of the most closely watched investigations in Andhra Pradesh and has raised fresh concerns about police accountability.