Two Head Constables Surrender in Andhra Custodial Death Case as SIT Intensifies Probe

Vijayawada, June 2026 : The investigation into the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna gathered pace on Monday with two head constables surrendering before the police, even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continued its probe into allegations of illegal detention, custodial torture and destruction of evidence.

Head constables Ashok and Nani, both attached to the Krishnalanka Police Station in Vijayawada, surrendered at the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Suryaraopet. The two policemen had reportedly gone into hiding following the arrest of suspended Circle Inspector and Station House Officer (SHO) S.S.V.V. Nagaraju earlier this month.

According to investigators, the duo allegedly assisted Nagaraju in the events leading to Sai Krishna’s custodial death and the subsequent attempts to conceal the crime.

The SIT had arrested Nagaraju on June 23, and a city court remanded him to judicial custody until July 8. The investigation team has accused the suspended SHO of wrongful confinement, murder and destruction of evidence.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday adjourned to Tuesday the hearing of a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Sai Krishna’s mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, seeking justice for her son.

The SIT reportedly submitted a preliminary report before the High Court, detailing the progress of the investigation, the offences registered and the action taken against the accused police personnel.

The case was registered on June 19 based on a complaint lodged by Vijaya Lakshmi, who alleged that her son was illegally detained, tortured and beaten to death while in police custody. Police invoked Sections 127(4), 127(6), 103(1) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the case.

During proceedings before a lower court last week, the SIT stated that Sai Krishna had died due to injuries inflicted while he was in police custody. Investigators also informed the court that CCTV footage from the Krishnalanka Police Station had been deliberately deleted in an attempt to erase evidence related to the incident.

According to the SIT, Sai Krishna, against whom several criminal cases and non-bailable warrants were pending, was picked up by police at Markapuram on May 6 and brought to the Krishnalanka Police Station in Vijayawada. He was allegedly kept in illegal custody before he disappeared.

The investigation has further revealed that after Sai Krishna’s death, efforts were allegedly made to conceal the custodial death. The SIT informed the court that his body was transported to an undisclosed location and that attempts were made either to bury or cremate it secretly to destroy evidence.

Investigators are continuing efforts to trace the victim’s body and establish the exact circumstances surrounding its disposal.

The Special Investigation Team is headed by Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) M. Ravi Prakash. The team includes West Godavari Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi and Alluri Sitharamaraju Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar as members, while Bapatla Additional Superintendent of Police L. Sudhakar is serving as the investigation officer.

The probe remains underway as authorities seek to establish the full sequence of events and determine the role of all those allegedly involved in the custodial death and the subsequent cover-up.