'I Will Kill Your Son': Missing Andhra Man Killed In Custody, Family Alleges Torture By Cop

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 12:54 IST

The SIT noted that Sai Krishna was never produced before a magistrate, despite legal requirements mandating that an arrested person be presented without unnecessary delay.

An Andhra Pradesh man who went missing in police custody has now been reported dead. He was taken into custody in the first week of May and was reported missing nearly a month later.

According to his family, cited by media reports, the 25-year-old man, identified as Gade Sai Krishna, was subjected to custodial torture. They have also alleged that he was beaten to death and cremated without their knowledge.

The allegations have triggered outrage in Andhra Pradesh and led to the arrest of former Krishna Lanka police inspector SSVV Nagaraju, who was earlier suspended from service. He was booked on June 19 on charges including murder and was arrested on Monday.

Mother’s Complaint Recounts Alleged Threats

In a complaint filed on June 19, Sai Krishna’s mother, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi, alleged that when she visited the Krishna Lanka police station to enquire about her son, Nagaraju threatened her.

“Why did you come? I will kill your son, get a garland ready for his photo," Lakshmi alleged the suspended inspector told her.

According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Lakshmi found her son inside the lock-up with visible injuries and pleaded with the inspector to release him. Instead, she alleged that she was abused and threatened.

Lakshmi later informed her advocate sister, who, along with a few lawyers, visited the police station. They too were allegedly abused and turned away by the officer.

SIT Suspects Custodial Death

The SIT produced Nagaraju before a court in Vijayawada on Wednesday, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.

In its remand report, the SIT said the case involved allegations of illegal detention, wrongful confinement, murder, destruction of evidence and furnishing false information.

The investigation has drawn a strong prima facie inference that Sai Krishna suffered fatal injuries while in police custody and died while under Nagaraju’s custody.

Police said Sai Krishna, against whom non-bailable warrants were allegedly pending, was brought to Krishna Lanka police station from Markapuram during the first week of May.

On the morning of May 6, constable Tulam Himaja allegedly handed over Sai Krishna and his mobile phone to Nagaraju.

The SIT noted that Sai Krishna was never produced before a magistrate, despite legal requirements mandating that an arrested person be presented without unnecessary delay.

High Court Told Sai Krishna Was ‘Missing’

Lakshmi later approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking protection for her son. However, police informed the court that his whereabouts were unknown.

According to the SIT, Nagaraju failed to disclose that Sai Krishna had already been apprehended by Vijayawada Task Force Police in Markapuram and brought to Krishna Lanka police station on his written request.

The SIT said this appeared to be a deliberate suppression of material facts and an attempt to conceal information from the High Court.

Investigators also found that CCTV footage from Krishna Lanka police station between May 1 and June 1 was missing.

Body Yet To Be Traced

The SIT said custodial interrogation of Nagaraju was necessary to establish the complete sequence of events, trace Sai Krishna’s body, identify others who may have been involved and recover additional evidence.

The probe agency also alleged that Nagaraju was not cooperating with the investigation and was giving evasive answers, hampering the progress of the case.

The SIT has maintained that his continued judicial custody is necessary to ensure a fair and effective investigation.

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Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read More

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