Vijayawada police accused of custodial death and body disposal

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Andhra Pradesh has concluded that 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna died due to severe injuries sustained during police beatings at the Krishnalanka police station in Vijayawada.

The SIT remand report alleges that Circle Inspector SSVV Nagaraju, Head Constable Ashok, and Constable Nani assaulted Krishna on May 7. Following the assault, Krishna was allegedly moved to an abandoned building at Ranigari Thota. A fourth accused, realtor Gulivindala Suresh, reportedly found Krishna severely injured on May 12, at which point Krishna allegedly stated that police were torturing him with the intent to kill him.

The report details an alleged cover-up in which Nagaraju, Ashok, and Suresh wrapped the body in a blanket, transported it via motorcycle to the Swargapuri crematorium, and cremated it themselves during the night of May 12-13. Investigators also noted efforts to destroy evidence, including the deletion of CCTV footage and photographs.

Suresh was recently remanded to judicial custody until September 24. The SIT also reported that Suresh had previously attempted to offer compensation to the victim's family in exchange for withdrawing a habeas corpus petition, an offer which was rejected.