NHRC Demands Report on Alleged Custodial Death of Gade Sai Krishna in Vijayawada
The NHRC has issued notices to top Andhra Pradesh police officials following allegations of a custodial death in Vijayawada. The commission is investigating claims that the victim's body was hidden to cover up the incident, demanding urgent reports and protection for the family.
Highlights
- •The NHRC has demanded a report on the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna within one week.
- •Notices were served to AP DGP Harish Kumar Gupta and Vijayawada CP S. V. Rajashekhar Babu.
- •Allegations include the unauthorized cremation and disposal of the victim's remains in the Krishna river.
- •The commission ordered the recovery of deleted CCTV footage and mandated security for the victim's mother.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has intervened in a deeply concerning case involving the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna in Vijayawada. The commission has formally issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta and Vijayawada Commissioner of Police S. V. Rajashekhar Babu, demanding a comprehensive report on the incident within a seven-day timeframe.
This intervention follows a formal complaint lodged by rights advocate Immaneni Rama Rao. According to the petition, Gade Sai Krishna reportedly passed away while in police custody at the Krishnalanka Police Station. The complainant further alleged that authorities engaged in a cover-up, claiming the victim’s body was surreptitiously cremated and the remains were disposed of in the Krishna river to prevent further investigation.
Human Rights Allegations and Official Directives
The NHRC has expressed significant alarm regarding these claims, characterizing the incident as a grave infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution, which enshrines the fundamental right to life. The commission has emphasized that such actions, if proven true, constitute a severe breach of both national legal standards and international human rights mandates.
To ensure a thorough examination of the custodial death allegations, the NHRC has issued specific directives to the local law enforcement agencies. The police have been tasked with recovering deleted CCTV footage from the Krishnalanka Police Station to reconstruct the events leading to the death. Furthermore, investigators have been ordered to undertake exhaustive efforts to locate the victim's mortal remains.
Beyond the primary investigation, the NHRC has prioritized the protection of those affected by this tragedy. The commission explicitly directed local authorities to ensure the safety and security of the victim's mother, Gade Vijayalakshmi. Officials are also required to submit a detailed action-taken report, which must include information on the registered FIR, any disciplinary proceedings initiated against the involved police personnel, and details regarding any interim financial compensation provided to the bereaved family.
The investigation into this custodial death remains a critical test for police accountability and human rights enforcement in the region. The commission’s swift action highlights the gravity with which such allegations of police misconduct and the subsequent concealment of evidence are being handled at the highest levels of oversight. Authorities are now under strict pressure to produce the requested documents and findings within the mandated one-week period to ensure transparency and justice for the family of Gade Sai Krishna.
