SIT takes suspended CI into custody in Sai Krishna custodial death case

The Krishnalanka police station in Vijayawada, where suspended Circle Inspector S.S.V.V. Nagaraju is accused in the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna. File | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao The Special Investigation Team (SIT) took suspended Krishnalanka Circle Inspector S.S.V.V. Nagaraju into custody on Thursday (July 30, 2026) in the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna, 25.The Supreme Court had granted the SIT seven days custody of Mr. Nagaraju, the main accused, to question him over the alleged wrongful confinement, torture and custodial death of Sai Krishna, and the destruction of evidence in the case. Mr. Nagaraju, Accused No. 1, was moved from judicial remand at the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison. The SIT, headed by Inspector General of Police M. Ravi Prakash, began questioning him in Vijayawada after completing legal and medical procedures on the first day.How the case beganSai Krishna went missing after Krishnalanka police picked him up from Markapuram in May. His mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court more than three weeks later, after being denied access to him at the police station. Mr. Nagaraju was arrested on June 23 on charges of custodial torture leading to Sai Krishna’s death, and of disposing of the body to destroy evidence.What the SIT has foundThe SIT has said it found that the Krishnalanka police tried to suggest Sai Krishna had escaped custody and fled to Goa, allegedly sending his mobile phone there with a gym trainer, and that attempts were made to tamper with CCTV footage. It has also questioned crematorium employees about the disposal of an unidentified body, and arrested a registered medical practitioner who had treated Sai Krishna for serious injuries while he was allegedly in confinement. Published - July 30, 2026 01:26 pm IST