The suspected custodial death and subsequent body disappearance of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna in Vijayawada has sparked widespread outrage and intensified concerns over police impunity in Andhra Pradesh. Detained by the Krishna Lanka police around May 10, Sai Krishna, a history-sheeter, was allegedly tortured to death by Circle Inspector S.S.V. Nagaraju, who then reportedly ordered a secret cremation to destroy evidence. After the victim's mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court and political pressure mounted from the opposition YSR Congress Party, the state government took action on June 19 by suspending Nagaraju and filing murder and wrongful confinement charges against him. Furthermore, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met with the victim's family to assure them of justice, addressing a shocking case that critics argue exemplifies a broader, troubling trend of law enforcement overreach and political weaponization in the state.

The suspected custodial death and subsequent body disappearance of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna in Vijayawada has sparked widespread outrage and intensified concerns over police impunity in Andhra Pradesh. Detained by the Krishna Lanka police around May 10, Sai Krishna, a history-sheeter, was allegedly tortured to death by Circle Inspector S.S.V. Nagaraju, who then reportedly ordered a secret cremation to destroy evidence. After the victim's mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court and political pressure mounted from the opposition YSR Congress Party, the state government took action on June 19 by suspending Nagaraju and filing murder and wrongful confinement charges against him. Furthermore, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met with the victim's family to assure them of justice, addressing a shocking case that critics argue exemplifies a broader, troubling trend of law enforcement overreach and political weaponization in the state.

The suspected custodial death and subsequent body disappearance of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna in Vijayawada has sparked widespread outrage and intensified concerns over police impunity in Andhra Pradesh. Detained by the Krishna Lanka police around May 10, Sai Krishna, a history-sheeter, was allegedly tortured to death by Circle Inspector S.S.V. Nagaraju, who then reportedly ordered a secret cremation to destroy evidence. After the victim's mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court and political pressure mounted from the opposition YSR Congress Party, the state government took action on June 19 by suspending Nagaraju and filing murder and wrongful confinement charges against him. Furthermore, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met with the victim's family to assure them of justice, addressing a shocking case that critics argue exemplifies a broader, troubling trend of law enforcement overreach and political weaponization in the state.

The disappearance of 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna from police custody in Vijayawada is most likely a custodial death, if the prevailing media versions are to be believed. The news of his possible death and the disappearance of his body have stunned the state and highlighted the extent to which the police have taken the law into their own hands. Finally, the Chief Minister had to intervene to take action against the police officer responsible for the alleged custodial death and to reassure the victim’s family.

Andhra Pradesh police have been making headlines for wrong reasons for months. In at least two incidents, the police made videos of themselves beating up youth in Visakhapatnam and Tenali for allegedly indulging in eve-teasing and peddling drugs. The opposition parties have been warning against giving such undue freedom to the police, saying they are toeing the line of the ruling party.

In the present case, Sai Krishna is known to be a history-sheeter with a few cases pending against him. He was a person of interest in a murder case, and the Vijayawada task force police nabbed him in Markapuram town around May 10 before handing him over to the Krishna Lanka police. Ever since, his mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, has been visiting the police station seeking her son. She came to know that her son was being tortured. She told the media that she heard her son’s cries but was denied information and allegedly abused by officials.

By mid-May, Sai Krishna’s family members alleged that he was severely tortured in custody at the Krishna Lanka police station. They claimed that Krishna Lanka circle inspector S.S.V. Nagaraju brutally beat Sai Krishna, leading to paralysis, and later stomped on his private parts. The family claims he died due to torture. His body was reportedly cremated secretly at night to destroy evidence.

On June 2, the mother filed a habeas corpus petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The court sought a counter from the police and posted the hearing for June 15. The police did not file the counter. The court was unhappy with the police response and gave them another opportunity to produce Sai Krishna by June 29.

Meanwhile, political pressure mounted as YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met the victim’s mother on June 18. Increasing media and opposition party attention finally forced the government to act. The very next day, on June 19, the government suspended the CI pending enquiry and filed a case under Section 103(1) (murder), Section 127(4) (wrongful confinement) and Section 127(6) (secret wrongful confinement).

The same day, Sai Krishna’s family members met Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The CM assured them that the state government would ensure justice for her son. Speaking to the media, Vijaya Lakshmi said they were satisfied with the CM’s assurance. Sai Krishna’s uncle, Navarang, thanked the CM and said they now have faith that appropriate action will be taken against the CI.

Speaking to THE WEEK, YSRCP leader and former minister Gudivada Amarnath said the police have developed a sense of impunity ever since the government started using them to file cases against YSRCP activists. “In recent memory, this is probably the first case where police allegedly killed a person in custody and made his body disappear. Police have got the feeling that the government won’t touch them since they have been doing their bidding in suppressing the opposition voices. But with this case, they have understood that their actions would have consequences,” he remarked.

Confining a person for more than a month must not have happened without the knowledge of fellow police personnel and the city police commissioner. The disappearance of the body had the most shocking value for the people. “Even in police fake encounters or Maoist killings, the bodies were never denied to the families. In this case, the denial of mortal remains shocked everyone. In the Jayaraj and Bennix custodial killings case, the most brutal police killing in recent memory, the bodies were handed over to the family,” said a journalist who didn’t want to be quoted.

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