Vijayawada custodial death: Suspended SHO Nagaraju sent to 8-day police custody
Synopsis
A Vijayawada court has handed the SIT eight days of police custody over suspended Circle Inspector Nagaraju in the Gade Sai Krishna custodial death case — a case where CCTV footage was allegedly deleted, the victim's body reportedly cremated to destroy evidence, and five accused are now behind bars. The investigation is rapidly widening.
Key Takeaways
A Vijayawada city court on 2 July sent suspended Circle Inspector S.S.V.V.
Nagaraju to 8 days of police custody in the Gade Sai Krishna custodial death case.
The SIT must interrogate Nagaraju at Rajamahendravaram Jail between 10 am and 5 pm daily, with sessions audio-video recorded.
The SIT told the court that CCTV footage at Krishna Lanka police station was deliberately deleted.
Constables Babu Rao and Sambaiah were arrested on 1 July for allegedly destroying CCTV evidence; both remanded for 14 days .
Total accused arrested in the case stands at five ; head constables Ashok and Nani surrendered on 29 June .
A case was registered on 19 June under BNS Sections 127(4) , 127(6) , 103(1) , and 238 on a complaint by the victim's mother, Vijaya Lakshmi .
A city court in Vijayawada on Thursday, 2 July granted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) eight days of police custody over S.S.V.V. Nagaraju, the suspended Circle Inspector and primary accused in the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna. The court directed that Nagaraju be interrogated at Rajamahendravaram Jail, where he remains under judicial custody, between 10 am and 5 pm daily in the presence of his lawyer, with all sessions to be audio and video recorded.
What Happened to Gade Sai Krishna
Sai Krishna, aged 25, was picked up by police on 6 May from Markapuram and transferred to Krishna Lanka police station. He had pending cases and non-bailable warrants against him at the time. His family alleged he was beaten to death in the lockup and his body subsequently disposed of at an electric crematorium. He was reportedly kept in illegal custody before he disappeared.
His mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, filed a formal complaint, leading to a case being registered on 19 June under Sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — covering wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence.
SIT Investigation and Arrests So Far
The SIT, headed by Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash, arrested Nagaraju on 23 June. A city court the following day placed him in judicial remand until 8 July. The SIT informed the court that Sai Krishna died of injuries inflicted in custody, and that CCTV footage at the police station was deliberately deleted.
On Wednesday, the SIT arrested constables Babu Rao and Sambaiah — accused number five and six respectively — for their alleged role in destroying CCTV evidence. A Second ACM Court remanded both to judicial custody for 14 days. With these arrests, the total number of accused in custody has risen to five.
Others in the Frame
Two head constables, Ashok and Nani, surrendered before police on Monday, 29 June and were sent to judicial custody. The SIT is also reportedly questioning Suresh, described as a friend of Nagaraju, in connection with the case.
What Happens Next
The court has directed the SIT to submit records after each round of questioning. The eight-day police custody window gives investigators a critical opportunity to establish the chain of events, trace the disposal of evidence, and potentially uncover further accused. The case has drawn significant attention to accountability gaps in custodial procedures in Andhra Pradesh, with the SIT under pressure to produce a charge sheet within the statutory timeline.
Point of View
Including constables and a civilian associate, suggests systemic complicity at Krishna Lanka police station. The SIT's eight-day custody window is significant, but the real accountability test is whether the charge sheet names all those who enabled the cover-up, not just those who carried it out. Andhra Pradesh has seen custodial death cases stall at the investigation stage before; this one will be watched for whether institutional pressure translates into convictions.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gade Sai Krishna and what happened to him?
Gade Sai Krishna was a 25-year-old man who was picked up by police from Markapuram on 6 May and transferred to Krishna Lanka police station in Vijayawada. His family alleges he was beaten to death in custody and his body disposed of at an electric crematorium; he had pending cases and non-bailable warrants against him at the time of his detention.
Who is the main accused in the Vijayawada custodial death case?
The main accused is S.S.V.V. Nagaraju, the suspended Circle Inspector (SHO) of Krishna Lanka police station. He was arrested by the SIT on 23 June and has now been placed in 8-day police custody by a Vijayawada city court for interrogation.
What charges have been filed in the case?
A case was registered on 19 June under Sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence, based on a complaint by the victim's mother Vijaya Lakshmi.
How many people have been arrested in the Gade Sai Krishna case?
Five people have been arrested so far. They include suspended SHO Nagaraju, constables Babu Rao and Sambaiah (arrested for allegedly destroying CCTV footage), and head constables Ashok and Nani (who surrendered on 29 June). The SIT is also questioning Suresh, reportedly a friend of Nagaraju.
What is the SIT and who is leading the investigation?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is a dedicated probe unit constituted to investigate the custodial death. It is headed by Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash and is probing charges of wrongful confinement, murder, and destruction of evidence against the accused.
