Published Oct 23, 2026 | 1:47 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 23, 2026 | 1:47 PM
The SIT concluded that Sai Krishna died solely from the beatings inflicted by the Krishnalanka police.
The Central Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation into the disappearance and custodial death case of Gade Sai Krishna in Andhra Pradesh on Friday, October 23.
The development comes following a hearing on the habeas corpus petition filed by Gade Sai Krishna’s mother in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Following the orders of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, officials of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by the state government, handed over the evidence collected by the SIT so far to the central investigative agency at its office in Hyderabad on Thursday, 22 October. This included witness statements, other records, and remand reports of the accused.
The Hyderabad branch of the CBI is supervising the investigation and is expected to register an FIR.
As part of their probe, CBI officials will visit Vijayawada and inspect the scenes related to the incident.
They will examine the Krishnalanka Police Station, the place in Ranigarithota where Sai Krishna was confined after being severely injured, the Krishnalanka crematorium where the body was burned to ashes, and the locations linked to the investigation in Markapuram, where he was taken into custody. They will also conduct a scene reconstruction of the incident.
Although the SIT has already filed a chargesheet, the CBI’s investigation could lead to more people being named as accused.
The CBI is also expected to inquire into the circumstances that led to the incident and on whose orders Sai Krishna was taken into custody.
The SIT chargesheet mentions that the role of 13 people has been identified so far in the Gade Sai Krishna case.
Along with the Krishnalanka police directly involved in the case, CI Nagaraju’s close associate Suresh is currently in remand. Meanwhile, the SIT also identified the role of three more individuals and added them as accused in the case.
It is learned that among them are a political party leader and a woman.
Also Read: Andhra Pradesh HC hands over Gade Sai Krishna case to CBI, orders compensation to his mother
On June 4, Sai Krishna’s mother, Gade Vijayalakshmi, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Andhra HC, seeking an order directing the authorities to produce her son before the court. The court ordered that he be produced by June 15.
The case subsequently drew political attention, with YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy meeting and consoling the family. Following this, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also met and consoled Sai Krishna’s mother.
On June 19, a case was registered over Sai Krishna’s disappearance. The then Circle Inspector of Krishnalanka Police Station, SSVV Nagaraju, was suspended, booked in connection with the case and arrested. Six others, including police constables, were also arrested.
The state government subsequently constituted an SIT to investigate the case. The team examined police station records, statements from the personnel concerned and other evidence.
The SIT, led by IG Ravi Prakash, on June 23, arrested Krishnalanka CI Nagaraju along with several police constables.
Later, during the investigation, it was confirmed that Sai Krishna died in police custody. However, the whereabouts of the body have not been traced so far.
It was identified that the police themselves cremated the body to ashes and subsequently tampered with the evidence.
Also Read: Sai Krishna custodial death case: SC stays HC proceedings; to directly monitor investigation
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
