Indian police probe custodial death in Vijayawada; body allegedly cremated to destroy evidence

Investigators question police and burial ground staff, scrutinise CCTV footage and collect records amid allegations of custodial death and destruction of evidence

Published: June 20, 2026 09:26 pm IST — VIJAYAWADA By: Rajulapudi Srinivas

Patamata Circle Inspector V. Pavan Kishore and his team questioned staff at the Swargapuri burial ground in Vijayawada on Saturday, as police and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams visited both the burial ground and the Krishnalanka police station as part of the ongoing investigation.

The inquiries come amid allegations that 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna was beaten to death in police custody and that his body was cremated to destroy evidence.

Background of the Case

• Sai Krishna was reportedly picked up by Krishnalanka police on May 9 and has been missing since.
• His mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, moved the High Court seeking directions for the police to produce her son.
• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the incident on June 18 and directed authorities to suspend Krishnalanka Circle Inspector Nagaraju and register cases against him under relevant legal provisions.

Investigation at the Burial Ground

Patamata Circle Inspector V. Pavan Kishore examined CCTV footage from cameras installed along the National Highway and the service road leading to the Swargapuri burial ground. He also questioned burial ground staff about the number of bodies cremated there since May 23, particularly unidentified ones.

The police team reviewed:

• Maintenance of registers
• Procedures followed for cremations
• Preservation of remains
• Roles of police and municipal corporation officials in handling unclaimed bodies

“We have collected data on the arrival of bodies from various locations and on unclaimed bodies cremated at the burial ground. A detailed investigation is under way,” Mr. Pavan Kishore said.

Later, police took the burial ground staff into custody for questioning and seized their mobile phones.

Investigation at Krishnalanka Police Station

An investigation team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Daiva Prasad questioned constables, the station writer, sentry personnel, and other staff. Investigators sought details on:

• When Sai Krishna was brought to the station
• The duration of his detention
• His treatment in custody
• Personnel on duty during the period
• Those who assisted Mr. Nagaraju during the interrogation

The team also examined the CCTV surveillance system at the police station and private cameras installed in the vicinity.

“We have seized mobile phones and records from both the police station and the burial ground,” a police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hindu on Saturday.