Chandrababu Naidu orders probe into Vijayawada youth's disappearance in custody
Synopsis
A 25-year-old picked up by Vijayawada police on 9 May has been missing for over a month — and his mother alleges he was tortured to death in custody. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, returning from Singapore, called an emergency meeting, suspended the accused Circle Inspector, and ordered a senior IPS inquiry. The High Court is already watching.
Key Takeaways
Gade Sai Krishna , aged around 25 , was reportedly picked up by Vijayawada police on 9 May and has been missing for over a month.
His mother Vijayalakshmi alleges he was tortured to death in police custody and has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court .
CM Chandrababu Naidu ordered the suspension of Krishnalanka Circle Inspector Nagaraju and directed a senior IPS officer to conduct an impartial inquiry.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan attended the emergency review meeting and demanded strict action against those responsible.
YSRCP leader Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) demanded a CBI probe or inquiry by a sitting High Court judge.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed police to trace Sai Krishna and produce him at the next hearing.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, 17 June ordered a high-level inquiry by a senior IPS officer into the disappearance of Gade Sai Krishna, a youth from Vijayawada, whose family alleges he was tortured to death in police custody. The Chief Minister also ordered the immediate suspension of the officer facing allegations in the case.
What Happened to Gade Sai Krishna
Gade Sai Krishna, aged around 25, was reportedly picked up by police on 9 May in connection with an ongoing investigation. He had prior criminal cases pending against him. He did not return home after being taken by police, and has been missing for more than a month. His mother, Vijayalakshmi, has alleged that her son was tortured to death in police custody and filed a habeas corpus petition before the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking his production before the bench. The High Court has since directed police to trace Sai Krishna and produce him at the next hearing.
CM's Emergency Review and Action Taken
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu convened an emergency review meeting with senior police officials at the Secretariat immediately after returning from his Singapore tour. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also attended the meeting. Senior officials present included Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, Chief Secretary Sai Prasad, Intelligence Chief Mahesh Chandra Laddha, and Vijayawada Police Commissioner Rajasekhar Babu. The DGP briefed both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on the details of the incident and informed them that Krishnalanka Circle Inspector Nagaraju had already been transferred to the Vacant Reserve (VR). The Chief Minister subsequently ordered Nagaraju's formal suspension and directed that the matter be investigated by a senior IPS officer, insisting on an impartial inquiry. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan urged strict action against those found responsible.
Opposition Demands CBI or Judicial Probe
Former minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Krishna District President Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) on Tuesday demanded either a CBI probe or an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge. Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Nani said: 'If the police can pick up a person, kill him and ensure even the body is unavailable, the very purpose of the rule of law and the judicial system stands undermined.' He argued that branding Sai Krishna a rowdy-sheeter or citing his prior criminal record could not justify his alleged death at police hands. 'If a person commits an offence, courts are empowered to decide guilt and impose punishment, not the police,' he asserted. Nani described the incident as reflecting 'the complete collapse of law and order under the coalition government.'
What Comes Next
The inquiry by a senior IPS officer is expected to proceed under the Chief Minister's direct watch, with the Andhra Pradesh High Court also monitoring the case. The next court hearing will be critical in determining whether police can produce Sai Krishna or account for his whereabouts. The case has intensified political scrutiny of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government's handling of police accountability.
Point of View
But they are also the standard political playbook when custodial deaths become public. The real test is whether the inquiry is genuinely independent, whether it reaches above the accused officer, and whether the High Court's monitoring yields answers rather than procedural delays. Opposition demands for a CBI or judicial probe reflect legitimate scepticism about in-house police inquiries in custodial cases — a scepticism that past precedent in Andhra Pradesh and across India does little to dispel.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gade Sai Krishna and why did police pick him up?
Gade Sai Krishna is a 25-year-old from Vijayawada who was reportedly picked up by police on 9 May in connection with an ongoing investigation. He had prior criminal cases pending against him and did not return home after being taken into custody.
What action has CM Chandrababu Naidu taken in the case?
CM Chandrababu Naidu ordered the suspension of Krishnalanka Circle Inspector Nagaraju and directed a senior IPS officer to conduct a high-level, impartial inquiry. He convened an emergency review meeting at the Secretariat immediately after returning from Singapore.
What has the Andhra Pradesh High Court said about the case?
The High Court is hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Sai Krishna's mother, Vijayalakshmi, seeking her son's production before the court. The bench has directed police to trace Sai Krishna and produce him at the next scheduled hearing.
What is the YSRCP's demand in the Vijayawada custody case?
YSRCP Krishna District President Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) has demanded either a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge. He argued that an in-house police probe cannot be considered independent and described the incident as evidence of a law-and-order collapse under the coalition government.
What happens next in the Gade Sai Krishna case?
A senior IPS officer is expected to lead the inquiry under the Chief Minister's watch, while the Andhra Pradesh High Court continues to monitor the case. The next court hearing will be a key milestone, with police required to either produce Sai Krishna or account for his disappearance.
