SIT Arrests Suspended CI Nagaraju in Sai Krishna Custodial Death Case
The Special Investigation Team has arrested suspended CI S.S.V.V. Nagaraju regarding the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna. Investigators are probing missing CCTV footage and evidence tampering, as the High Court awaits a progress report on the sensitive case.
Highlights
- •The SIT arrested suspended CI S.S.V.V. Nagaraju following a lengthy interrogation.
- •The investigation concerns the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna in May.
- •Authorities are probing the disappearance of crucial CCTV footage from the police station.
- •Supporters of the arrested CI held protests and a candlelight rally in Vijayawada.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Inspector General of Police M. Ravi Prakash, has officially arrested S.S.V.V. Nagaraju, the suspended Circle Inspector (CI) of Krishnalanka police station. This development follows a rigorous five-hour interrogation at the SIT office located within the Command and Control Centre of Vijayawada, regarding the controversial Sai Krishna custodial death case.
Authorities have been investigating allegations that Gade Sai Krishna suffered severe physical abuse while in police custody, which ultimately resulted in his death. Reports indicate that investigators focused their questioning on the timeline of events, specifically detailing when Sai Krishna was transported from Markapur to the Krishnalanka police station. Furthermore, officials scrutinized the subsequent efforts made to dispose of evidence, specifically mentioning that the victim’s body was cremated at an electric crematorium in Krishnalanka shortly after the incident.
Investigation into Custodial Death Case Evidence
A significant portion of the inquiry centered on the mysterious disappearance of CCTV footage from the Krishnalanka police station during the critical window when Sai Krishna was detained in May. The suspended CI, Nagaraju, reportedly remained uncooperative during the questioning sessions, failing to provide the specific information requested by the SIT members. Consequently, the team plans to present him before a magistrate, with intentions to secure his judicial remand to further the ongoing custodial death case investigation.
As the Andhra Pradesh High Court prepares to resume the hearing for the habeas corpus petition filed by the victim’s mother, Vijayalakshmi, on June 29, the state police are expected to present detailed progress reports regarding the arrest of the former CI. This legal step is viewed as a crucial move in achieving accountability within the Sai Krishna custodial death case.
The situation escalated into high-stakes drama when SIT officials moved to apprehend Nagaraju at his Singh Nagar residence. Supporters of the officer gathered in the streets, displaying placards and chanting slogans such as “We Stand With You Sir” to voice their disapproval of the arrest. Some demonstrators even organized a candlelight rally at Benz Circle to protest, highlighting the officer’s past efforts in maintaining local order and curbing narcotics. Meanwhile, separate allegations have emerged suggesting that Nagaraju may have accumulated significant illicit assets in various locations, adding another layer to the complex custodial death case.
