Andhra custodial death: CM Naidu assures justice in Gade Sai Krishna case
Synopsis
A 26-year-old picked up for questioning on 9 May has not returned home. His mother alleges torture and death in custody. With the High Court demanding his production by 29 June, a Circle Inspector suspended, and opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy demanding a CBI probe, the Gade Sai Krishna case has become Andhra Pradesh's most charged custodial accountability test in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Gade Sai Krishna , 26, of Krishna Lanka, Vijayawada , was picked up by police on 9 May and has not been seen since.
Chandrababu Naidu met the family on 19 June and assured an impartial probe, stating the guilty would not be spared.
Circle Inspector Nagaraju of Krishna Lanka police station has been suspended; a case of wrongful confinement, murder, and disappearance of evidence registered against him under the BNS .
The High Court has directed police to produce Sai Krishna by 29 June after they failed to comply with the earlier 15 June deadline.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded a CBI probe, escalating political pressure on the state government.
Narasimha Kishore is leading the investigation and has recorded statements from the family.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, 19 June met the family of Gade Sai Krishna, a 26-year-old from Krishna Lanka, Vijayawada, who allegedly died in police custody after being picked up for questioning on 9 May. Naidu assured the family that an impartial inquiry would be conducted and that those found guilty would not be spared.
What the Chief Minister Promised
Sai Krishna's mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, appealed to the Chief Minister to investigate her son's disappearance and ensure justice. Naidu consoled her and confirmed he had already ordered a probe by a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and suspended Nagaraju, Circle Inspector of Krishna Lanka police station, on 17 June. Vijaya Lakshmi said she left the meeting confident that justice would be served.
The Investigation So Far
East Godavari district Superintendent of Police D. Narasimha Kishore, tasked with leading the investigation, arrived in Vijayawada and recorded statements from Vijaya Lakshmi and two other family members. Police have also booked the suspended Circle Inspector on a complaint filed by Vijaya Lakshmi. A case of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing disappearance of evidence has been registered against Nagaraju under sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
High Court Intervention
Vijaya Lakshmi had earlier filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the High Court, which directed the Krishna Lanka police to produce Sai Krishna before it by 15 June. When police failed to comply, the court extended the deadline to 29 June. The inability of police to produce the youth has deepened suspicions about his fate.
Political Pressure Mounts
The family's meeting with Naidu came a day after former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Vijayawada and met Vijaya Lakshmi. Reddy demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), arguing that a state police inquiry would be insufficient given the accused are police personnel. The opposition pressure has added urgency to the case at the highest levels of the state government.
Background: How the Case Unfolded
Sai Krishna, a resident of Krishna Lanka in Vijayawada, was picked up by police on 9 May for questioning in connection with a case and has not been seen since — a period of over 40 days. His mother has alleged that he was tortured and beaten to death in custody, though this remains under investigation. The case has drawn widespread attention to custodial accountability in Andhra Pradesh.
With the High Court deadline of 29 June approaching and a senior IPS officer now leading the probe, the next few days are likely to be decisive in determining what happened to Sai Krishna.
Point of View
Institutional accountability kicks in only after public pressure and judicial intervention. That the High Court had to issue two successive production orders before the executive acted is telling. CM Naidu's suspension of the Circle Inspector is a necessary first step, but the opposition's CBI demand reflects a legitimate concern — state police investigating their own is structurally compromised. The 29 June court deadline is now the real test of whether this assurance translates into transparency or bureaucratic delay.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gade Sai Krishna and what happened to him?
Gade Sai Krishna was a 26-year-old resident of Krishna Lanka, Vijayawada, who was picked up by police on 9 May for questioning in connection with a case and has not returned since. His mother alleges he was tortured and beaten to death in police custody, a claim that is currently under investigation.
What action has the Andhra Pradesh government taken in the case?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered a probe by a senior IPS officer on 17 June and suspended Circle Inspector Nagaraju of Krishna Lanka police station. East Godavari SP D. Narasimha Kishore has been tasked with leading the investigation and has already recorded family statements.
What charges have been filed in the Gade Sai Krishna case?
On a complaint by his mother Vijaya Lakshmi, a case of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing disappearance of evidence has been registered against suspended Circle Inspector Nagaraju under sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What has the High Court ordered in this case?
The High Court directed Krishna Lanka police to produce Sai Krishna before it by 15 June following a Habeas Corpus petition filed by his mother. When police failed to comply, the court extended the deadline to 29 June.
Why is the opposition demanding a CBI probe?
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who met the family on 18 June, has demanded a CBI investigation, arguing that a state police probe into alleged misconduct by police personnel lacks credibility and independence.
