SIT accuses Krishnalanka police of destroying evidence in custodial death case

Accused constables did not answer any queries during questioning, SIT officials tell court; head constable Sambaiah and constable Babu Rao allegedly deleted CCTV footage and other evidence

Published - July 02, 2026 11:46 pm IST | VIJAYAWADA

By Rajulapudi Srinivas

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna has observed that several constables, head constables, and other staff at the Krishnalanka police station destroyed evidence related to the case. The SIT also stated that the accused were not cooperating with the investigation.

Investigation officers arrested head constables Jangam Nani and Potarlanka Ashok and produced them before the court on Tuesday night. The SIT produced constable Kaitepalli Babu Rao and head constable Goriparthi Sambabai in the Second Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, which remanded them to judicial custody.

Earlier, the SIT arrested Circle Inspector S.S.V.V. Nagaraju in the case, and he remains in judicial custody.

Eight-Day Police Custody for Former CI

The court on Thursday granted an eight-day police custody of Nagaraju from July 3. The SIT had filed a petition seeking 12 days of custody for the accused. The court directed the SIT to question Nagaraju in Rajamahendravaram.

SIT officials said evidence suggests the involvement of Nani and Ashok, who were attached to Krishnalanka police station, in the wrongful confinement and custodial torture of Sai Krishna.

Investigation revealed that head constable Sambaiah and constable Babu Rao deleted the CCTV footage and other digital evidence related to Sai Krishna’s illegal custody, torture, and other offences that occurred at the police station.

The constables did not answer any queries during questioning. Nani and Ashok claimed they had sold their mobile phones to unknown persons in Nagpur, SIT officers told the court.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Forum (HRF) State general secretary Y. Rajesh and secretary G. Rohit, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that Gade Sai Krishna was subjected to custodial torture and died in custody. They demanded a probe by a judicial magistrate, not an executive magistrate.