Andhra Pradesh SIT formed to probe custodial death of Vijayawada man, 25
Synopsis
A 25-year-old picked up for routine questioning on 9 May has not been seen since — and his mother alleges police beat him to death and cremated the body to hide the evidence. With the Andhra Pradesh High Court pressing for answers by 29 June and an SIT now formally constituted, the case is a stark test of police accountability in the state.
Key Takeaways
Andhra Pradesh Police constituted an SIT on 21 June to probe the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna , 25, from Vijayawada .
IG (Law and Order) M.
Ravi Prakash will head the SIT; Additional SP L.
Sudhakar is the designated investigation officer.
Suspended Circle Inspector Nagaraju of Krishna Lanka police station faces charges of wrongful confinement, murder, and destruction of evidence under the BNS .
Victim's mother Gade Vijaya Lakshmi alleges her son was picked up on 9 May , tortured, killed, and cremated by police to destroy evidence.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed police to produce Sai Krishna or account for his whereabouts by 29 June .
Chandrababu Naidu ordered the probe and Nagaraju's suspension on 17 June .
The Andhra Pradesh Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna, a 25-year-old man from Vijayawada, following mounting pressure from the courts, the victim's family, and the state government. The SIT was formed on 21 June under a Government Order issued by Chief Secretary Sai Prasad.
SIT Composition and Mandate
Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash will head the team. West Godavari Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi and Alluri Sitharamaraju SP Amit Bardar have been named members, with Bapatla district Additional SP L. Sudhakar designated as the investigation officer.
The SIT has been granted authority to draw additional staff, as well as technical and forensic support from across the police department. It has been directed to complete the probe expeditiously.
What the Investigation Will Cover
The team will examine allegations of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing disappearance of evidence against Nagaraju, a suspended Circle Inspector of the Krishna Lanka police station. A case against him was registered on 19 June under Sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), on a complaint filed by the victim's mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi.
According to reports, Task Force police were interrogating Nagaraju at his residence in Singh Nagar from Monday morning, and an arrest is reportedly imminent after questioning concludes.
The Family's Account
Vijaya Lakshmi has alleged that her son was tortured and beaten to death in police custody. According to her, Sai Krishna was picked up by police on 9 May for questioning in a case and never returned. She further alleged that a police official had the body cremated to destroy evidence — a claim investigators are actively pursuing after collecting records from a crematorium in Krishna Lanka covering unclaimed bodies cremated between 23 May and 26 May.
Court Directions and Government Action
Vijaya Lakshmi filed a Habeas Corpus petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which directed the Krishna Lanka police to produce Sai Krishna on 15 June. When the police failed to do so, the court extended the deadline to 29 June.
Separately, the Second Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate court directed police to preserve CCTV footage from the Krishna Lanka police station for the period 1 May to 1 June, and to produce call data records (CDRs) of Sai Krishna and his mother for the same window to establish their locations.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 17 June ordered an inquiry by a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and directed the suspension of Circle Inspector Nagaraju. Investigators have since recorded Vijaya Lakshmi's statement, collected CCTV footage from multiple locations, and gathered technical evidence.
What Comes Next
With the High Court's next deadline of 29 June approaching and the SIT now operational, the case is entering a critical phase. The outcome of Nagaraju's interrogation and the forensic analysis of crematorium records could prove decisive in establishing whether a custodial killing occurred and who bears responsibility.
Point of View
And the forensic trail from the Krishna Lanka crematorium will either substantiate or collapse the case. The High Court's involvement is the only structural check ensuring this does not get buried quietly. Whether the SIT delivers a credible charge sheet or a convenient closure will define how seriously Andhra Pradesh treats custodial violence in the post-BNS era.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gade Sai Krishna and what happened to him?
Gade Sai Krishna was a 25-year-old man from Vijayawada who was picked up by the Krishna Lanka police on 9 May for questioning in a case and never returned. His mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, has alleged that he was tortured and beaten to death in custody, and that a police official had his body cremated to destroy evidence.
Who is heading the SIT formed to probe the case?
Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash is heading the SIT. West Godavari SP Adnan Nayeem Asmi and Alluri Sitharamaraju SP Amit Bardar are members, and Bapatla district Additional SP L. Sudhakar is the designated investigation officer.
What charges has suspended CI Nagaraju been booked under?
A case was registered against Nagaraju on 19 June under Sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering wrongful confinement, murder, and causing disappearance of evidence. He was suspended on the orders of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on 17 June.
What has the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed in this case?
The High Court directed the Krishna Lanka police to produce Sai Krishna on 15 June after a Habeas Corpus petition was filed by his mother. When police failed to comply, the court extended the deadline to 29 June. A magistrate court also directed preservation of CCTV footage and call data records from 1 May to 1 June.
What evidence has been collected so far?
Investigators have recorded statements from the victim's mother and others, collected CCTV footage from multiple locations, and gathered technical evidence. Crucially, they have obtained records from a crematorium in Krishna Lanka covering all unclaimed bodies cremated between 23 May and 26 May.
