Published Jun 23, 2026 | 2:09 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 23, 2026 | 2:38 PM
SSVV Nagaraju.
Synopsis: The Special Investigation Team formed by the Andhra Pradesh government to probe the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna detained suspended Circle Inspector SSVV Nagaraju for questioning. According to police sources, he has been shifted to the Police Control Room. The police are expected to record his arrest soon, and he will be produced before the local magistrate.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Andhra Pradesh government to probe the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna on Tuesday, 23 June, took into custody suspended Circle Inspector (CI) SSVV Nagaraju for questioning.
The SIT is investigating the illegal detention and custodial death of Sai Krishna and the screening of evidence.
According to police sources, he has been shifted to the Task Force Office in Vijayawada, where the SIT has set up its base. The police are expected to record his arrest soon, and he will be produced before the local magistrate.
“Nagaraju would be grilled on illegal confinement, custodial torture, murder and destroying evidence in Gade Sai Krishna’s house,” a senior police officer said.
Sai Krishna’s mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, has alleged that her son was picked up by Krishnalanka police in NTR district from Markapuram in Prakasam district on 9 May. Vijaya Lakshmi said she had repeatedly visited Krishnalanka Police Station since then but had not received any information about her son.
Vijaya Lakshmi returned to the police on 16 May but was told that her son was no longer with them. Unaware of her son’s death, the mother kept visiting the police station until she was told one day that he had died and could garland his photo.
She pleaded that the body be handed over or at least the ashes be given. Police would have none of it. Eventually, 15 days after it was confiscated, the police returned his phone to his mother after deleting the call history and the rest of the data.
Also Read: Andhra Pradesh government forms SIT to probe alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna
Advocate KV Aditya Chowdary, who is representing Vijaya Lakshmi, alleged before the Andhra Pradesh High Court that Sai Krishna might have died after being subjected to custodial torture and that the police were deliberately covering up the facts.
Mahankali Chandu, accused in a different case and an eyewitness, said in a video released to the public that he saw Sai Krishan being brutally tortured before he was asked to leave the police station, even after having cases against him.
An FIR was registered at Krishnalanka Police Station against Nagaraju, who was the CI there at the time of the incident. The FIR was filed under Sections 127(4), 127(6), and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering illegal detention, custodial torture and murder, as well as Section 238 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which deals with causing disappearance of evidence.
On 21 June, the Andhra Pradesh government constituted an SIT to probe the alleged custodial death. The order stated that the government appointed an independent SIT led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) M Ravi Prakash and three other senior officers: West Godavari District Superintendent of Police (SP) Adnan Nayeem Asmi, Alluri Sitaramraju District SP Amit Bardar, and Baptala Additional SP L Sudhakar.
Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed at Nagaraju’s residence as he was detained by officers from the SIT. His supporters gathered outside his home in Ajith Singh Nagar and displayed banners and posters with slogans of support, despite the police personnel asking them to stop.
Supporters also tried to block the vehicle in which Nagaraju was being transferred.
