Vijayawada lock-up death: Two head constables surrender in Sai Krishna case
Synopsis
Two head constables who allegedly helped a suspended SHO cover up a custodial death in Vijayawada have surrendered — weeks after the victim's body was reportedly moved and attempts made to destroy it. The SIT has confirmed death by custodial injury and deliberate CCTV deletion, making this one of the most damning police accountability cases in Andhra Pradesh in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Head constables Ashok and Nani surrendered at the Suryaraopet ACP office in Vijayawada on 29 June .
Both were allegedly assisting suspended SHO S.S.V.V.
Nagaraju , who was arrested on 23 June and sent to judicial remand until 8 July .
The SIT confirmed that Gade Sai Krishna, 25 , died of injuries sustained in custody at Krishnalanka police station .
CCTV footage at the police station was reportedly deliberately deleted , according to SIT findings.
Sai Krishna's body was allegedly moved to an undisclosed location; attempts to bury or burn it are under investigation.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court adjourned a Habeas Corpus petition hearing filed by the victim's mother to Tuesday .
Two head constables accused of assisting a suspended officer in the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna surrendered before authorities in Vijayawada on Monday, 29 June, marking a significant turn in one of Andhra Pradesh's most closely watched police brutality cases. The duo, identified as Ashok and Nani, presented themselves at the Suryaraopet ACP office.
Background of the Surrender
Both Ashok and Nani were serving as head constables at Krishnalanka police station in Vijayawada when the alleged crime took place. According to investigators, they had gone into hiding following the arrest of suspended Circle Inspector (Station House Officer) S.S.V.V. Nagaraju on 23 June. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case had established during its inquiry that the two constables were actively assisting Nagaraju. A city court subsequently sent Nagaraju to judicial remand until 8 July.
What the SIT Has Uncovered
The SIT, in submissions to a lower court, stated that Sai Krishna died of injuries inflicted on him while in custody. Investigators further revealed that CCTV footage at the police station was deliberately deleted — a finding that has significantly deepened the gravity of the charges. The SIT is probing allegations of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence against the suspended SHO.
According to the SIT's account, Sai Krishna — who had certain cases and non-bailable warrants pending against him — was picked up on 6 May from Markapuram and transferred to Krishnalanka police station, where he was allegedly held in illegal custody before disappearing. The court was informed that his body was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location, with attempts made to either bury or burn it. The SIT stated it is still working to determine where the body was ultimately disposed of.
Case Registered and Legal Proceedings
A formal case was registered on 19 June on a complaint filed by Sai Krishna's mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, who alleged her son was tortured and beaten to death while in custody. The case was registered under sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The Andhra Pradesh High Court, which is separately hearing a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Vijaya Lakshmi, adjourned its proceedings to Tuesday. The SIT reportedly submitted a preliminary report to the High Court detailing the case registered and the action taken so far.
SIT Composition and Oversight
The SIT is headed by Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash and includes West Godavari Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi and Alluri Sitharamaraju SP Amit Bardar as members. Bapatla District Additional SP L. Sudhakar is serving as the investigation officer.
What Comes Next
With the surrender of Ashok and Nani, all three principal accused are now in the legal process. The High Court hearing on Tuesday and Nagaraju's remand expiry on 8 July are the immediate milestones to watch. The SIT's ongoing effort to locate Sai Krishna's body remains the most critical unresolved element of the probe.
Point of View
But the deeper scandal here is institutional: CCTV footage was deleted, a body was allegedly transported and possibly destroyed, and the victim was held without lawful authority for weeks before anyone filed a complaint. These are not acts of individual misconduct — they suggest a coordinated cover-up within a police station. The Andhra Pradesh government's response, including SIT formation and High Court oversight, signals accountability under pressure. But the body has not been found, and until it is, the most critical evidence in a murder investigation remains missing. That gap should concern the court as much as the arrests.
NationPress
29 Jun 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 from Markapuram on 6 May and taken to Krishnalanka police station in Vijayawada. According to the SIT, he was held in illegal custody, died of injuries inflicted on him there, and his body was subsequently moved to an undisclosed location.
Why did the two head constables surrender?
Head constables Ashok and Nani surrendered at the Suryaraopet ACP office on 29 June after the SIT identified them as having assisted suspended SHO S.S.V.V. Nagaraju. They had reportedly gone into hiding following Nagaraju's arrest on 23 June.
What charges have been filed in the Vijayawada custodial death case?
A case was registered on 19 June under sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on a complaint by the victim's mother, Vijaya Lakshmi. The SIT is probing allegations of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence.
What did the SIT find about the CCTV footage?
The SIT informed the court that CCTV footage at Krishnalanka police station was deliberately deleted, pointing to an attempt to conceal evidence of what happened to Sai Krishna while in custody.
What is the current status of the Andhra Pradesh High Court proceedings?
The Andhra Pradesh High Court adjourned the hearing on a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Sai Krishna's mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, to Tuesday. The SIT reportedly submitted a preliminary report to the court detailing the case and actions taken so far.
