Published Jun 24, 2026 | 2:30 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 24, 2026 | 3:45 PM
The SIT alleged that SSVV Nagaraju sought to conceal from the High Court the fact that Sai Krishna had already been apprehended.
Synopsis: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh Police has found prima facie evidence that 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna was illegally detained at Krishna Lanka police station in Vijayawada, suffered fatal injuries in police custody, and that evidence was later concealed. In a remand report, the SIT accused suspended Circle Inspector SSVV Nagaraju of illegal detention and murder.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh Police, probing the suspected custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna, has found prima facie evidence suggesting that he was illegally detained at Krishna Lanka police station in Vijayawada, suffered fatal injuries while in police custody, and that material evidence, including CCTV footage and the victim’s body, was subsequently concealed to shield those responsible from legal consequences.
In a remand report filed before the II Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Vijayawada, the SIT accused suspended Circle Inspector SSVV Nagaraju of illegal detention, wrongful confinement, murder, destruction of evidence and furnishing false information.
The SIT arrested Nagaraju on Tuesday and produced him before the magistrate on Wednesday.
The report states that Sai Krishna, against whom two non-bailable warrants were pending, was apprehended in Markapuram by a Vijayawada City police team on 6 May and brought to Krishna Lanka police station the same day.
The SIT said multiple witnesses had established that Sai Krishna was physically present at the police station after being brought there, but that he was never produced before a jurisdictional magistrate, as required by law.
“…he was required to be produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate without unnecessary delay and within the time prescribed by law. However, the deceased was not produced before any Magistrate, and no lawful explanation for such non-production has been forthcoming,” the remand report said.
The SIT also flagged the disappearance of CCTV footage from the period during which Sai Krishna was allegedly held in custody.
According to the report, personnel from the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory visited Krishna Lanka police station on 19 June to retrieve footage from digital video recorders (DVRs). However, no recordings were found for the period between 1 May and 1 June.
The report said the missing footage was significant because it corresponds to the period during which Sai Krishna was allegedly detained at Krishna Lanka police station.
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The SIT further alleged that SSVV Nagaraju sought to conceal from the High Court the fact that Sai Krishna had already been apprehended and brought to Krishna Lanka police station after it ordered the police to locate him following a habeas corpus petition filed by Sai Krishna’s mother.
The report said Nagaraju submitted written instructions before the High Court stating that efforts were being made to trace Sai Krishna, but “did not disclose the fact that the deceased had already been apprehended at Markapuram by the Task Force Police, Vijayawada City, pursuant to his own written requisition and had thereafter been brought to Krishna Lanka Police Station and handed over into police custody.”
It added that this “prima facie indicates deliberate suppression of material facts relating to the apprehension and custody of the deceased and an attempt to conceal the true facts from the Hon’ble High Court”.
The SIT has also relied on witness statements to establish Sai Krishna’s presence at the police station.
Sai Krishna’s mother told investigators that she had seen her son in an unconscious state, with his legs tied, inside the police station and had heard his cries while he was in custody.
The report said she had requested SSVV Nagaraju to release her son, but alleged that he threatened her.
“She further alleged that the concerned police officials, in order to conceal the alleged death and destroy evidence, disposed of Sai Krishna’s body by burning it beyond recognition,” the report states.
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The SIT said Sai Krishna’s body has not yet been traced and alleged that SSVV Nagaraju was not cooperating with the investigation.
“In view of the aforesaid circumstances, namely the apprehension of the deceased, his handing over to the accused, his continued presence in police custody, the injuries noticed on his person, the non-production of the deceased before the Magistrate, the suppression of material facts before the Hon’ble High Court, the absence of CCTV footage during the relevant period, and the failure of the accused to disclose the whereabouts of the deceased, a strong prima facie inference arises that the deceased suffered fatal injuries while in police custody and succumbed to those injuries while in the accused’s custody,” the report said.
The SIT has sought 15 days of judicial custody for the accused, saying custodial interrogation is necessary to establish the complete chain of events, trace the body, identify any other persons involved and recover additional evidence.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
