Vijayawada custodial death: SIT detains suspended SHO Nagaraju for questioning
Synopsis
A four-member SIT has detained the suspended SHO of Krishna Lanka police station in Vijayawada in connection with the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna. With the Andhra Pradesh High Court demanding the victim be produced by 29 June and family alleging his body was cremated to destroy evidence, this case is rapidly becoming a flashpoint for police accountability in the state.
Key Takeaways
The SIT took suspended SHO Nagaraju of Krishna Lanka police station into custody on 23 June for questioning.
Gade Sai Krishna , 25 , was allegedly picked up on 9 May , tortured in custody, and his body reportedly cremated at Swargapuri electric crematorium to destroy evidence.
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, Gade Vijayalakshmi .
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed police to produce Sai Krishna by 29 June .
The SIT questioned around 11 police personnel and scrutinised records at the Krishna Lanka police station .
Supporters of the suspended officer gathered outside his residence, demanding withdrawal of the case.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna, a 25-year-old man from Vijayawada, on Tuesday, 23 June took suspended Station House Officer (SHO) Nagaraju into custody for interrogation. The four-member SIT, constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government just two days earlier, picked up Nagaraju from his residence in Singh Nagar and shifted him to a police guest house for questioning.
Custody and Crowd Response
Supporters of the suspended officer had gathered outside his Singh Nagar residence at the time of detention, carrying placards and photographs of Nagaraju while raising slogans demanding the withdrawal of the case registered against him. A large contingent of police personnel was deployed at the scene to prevent any untoward incident.
SIT Composition and Investigation So Far
The SIT is headed by Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash and includes West Godavari Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi, Alluri Sitharamaraju SP Amit Bardar, and Bapatla district Additional SP L. Sudhakar as the investigation officer. On Monday, the team recorded statements from Sai Krishna's mother, Gade Vijayalakshmi, and other family members. Investigators also visited the Krishna Lanka police station — where Sai Krishna was allegedly held — scrutinised station records, and questioned around 11 police personnel who were on duty at the time.
What the Family Alleges
Gade Vijayalakshmi has alleged that her son was picked up by police on 9 May for questioning in a separate case, illegally detained, and subjected to custodial torture at the Krishna Lanka police station. She further alleged that his body was cremated at the Swargapuri electric crematorium to destroy evidence. A case was registered on 19 June under sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on her complaint.
High Court Intervention
Vijayalakshmi had 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 do so, the court extended the deadline, directing them to produce him by 29 June. The SIT is now probing allegations of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence against the suspended SHO.
What Comes Next
With the High Court deadline of 29 June looming, the SIT's interrogation of Nagaraju is expected to be pivotal. The case has drawn sharp scrutiny over alleged police misconduct in Andhra Pradesh, and the outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for accountability within the state's law enforcement apparatus.
Point of View
Not merely performing accountability. The High Court's Habeas Corpus intervention is the real driver here: when a court demands a living person be produced and the police cannot comply, the institutional credibility of the entire force is on the line. The allegation that the body was cremated at a specific crematorium to destroy evidence, if substantiated, would elevate this from a case of custodial excess to a coordinated cover-up. The SIT's composition — drawing SPs from districts outside Vijayawada — suggests an attempt to insulate the probe from local influence, but whether that structural safeguard translates into genuine independence remains to be seen.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vijayawada custodial death case?
The case involves the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna , a 25-year-old man who was reportedly picked up by the Krishna Lanka police station in Vijayawada on 9 May for questioning. His mother, Gade Vijayalakshmi, alleges he was illegally detained, tortured, and that his body was cremated to destroy evidence.
Who is the suspended SHO Nagaraju?
Nagaraju was the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Krishna Lanka police station in Vijayawada. He has been suspended and is now in SIT custody, facing allegations of wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence under the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita.
What is the High Court's role in this case?
The Andhra Pradesh High Court is hearing a Habeas Corpus petition filed by the victim's mother. It first directed police to produce Sai Krishna by 15 June ; when police failed to comply, the court extended the deadline to 29 June .
Who is leading the SIT investigation?
The SIT is headed by Inspector General (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash and includes West Godavari SP Adnan Nayeem Asmi , Alluri Sitharamaraju SP Amit Bardar , and Bapatla district Additional SP L. Sudhakar as the investigation officer.
What charges have been filed in the case?
A case was registered on 19 June under BNS sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1), and 238 , covering offences related to wrongful confinement, murder, and causing the disappearance of evidence, based on a complaint by Gade Vijayalakshmi .
