SIT takes suspended CI Nagaraju into custody in Sai Krishna custodial death case

S.S.V.V. Nagaraju, the main accused, was moved from judicial remand at Rajamahendravaram to Vijayawada, where the SIT began questioning him under a seven-day custody order from the Supreme Court

Published – July 30, 2026 01:26 pm IST – VIJAYAWADA

By Rajulapudi Srinivas

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) took suspended Krishnalanka Circle Inspector S.S.V.V. Nagaraju into custody on Thursday (July 30, 2026) in connection with the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna.

The Supreme Court had granted the SIT seven days of custody to question Mr. Nagaraju, the main accused, regarding:

• Alleged wrongful confinement
• Torture and custodial death of Sai Krishna
• Destruction of evidence in the case

Mr. Nagaraju, listed as Accused No. 1, was moved from judicial remand at the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison. The SIT, headed by Inspector General of Police M. Ravi Prakash, began questioning him in Vijayawada after completing legal and medical procedures on the first day.

How the Case Began

Sai Krishna went missing after Krishnalanka police picked him up from Markapuram in May. His mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court more than three weeks later, after being denied access to him at the police station. Mr. Nagaraju was arrested on June 23 on charges of custodial torture leading to Sai Krishna’s death, and of disposing of the body to destroy evidence.

What the SIT Has Found

The SIT has reported that the Krishnalanka police attempted to:

• Suggest Sai Krishna had escaped custody and fled to Goa
• Allegedly send his mobile phone to Goa with a gym trainer
• Tamper with CCTV footage

The SIT has also questioned crematorium employees about the disposal of an unidentified body and arrested a registered medical practitioner who had treated Sai Krishna for serious injuries while he was allegedly in confinement.