Sai Krishna Case Deepens as Suspended CI Nagaraju Arrested

The alleged disappearance and custodial death of 23-year-old Gade Sai Krishna has snowballed into a major controversy in Andhra Pradesh, triggering the arrest of a suspended police officer, judicial scrutiny, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, and growing demands for a CBI investigation. The case has also sparked a political war of words, with opposition leaders questioning the government's handling of the matter and demanding complete transparency.

In a significant development, Andhra Pradesh Police on Tuesday arrested suspended Krishnalanka Circle Inspector G. Nagaraju , who has been accused of illegally detaining Sai Krishna, subjecting him to custodial torture, and concealing evidence relating to his alleged death. Police officials confirmed that Nagaraju would be produced before a court as investigations continue.

The case came to light after Gade Vijayalakshmi , Sai Krishna's mother, alleged that her son was taken into police custody and never returned home. According to her complaint, Sai Krishna was brutally assaulted while in custody and later died from the injuries. She further alleged that his body was secretly cremated without informing family members, a claim that has generated widespread outrage across the state.

Acting on her complaint, police registered a murder case against Nagaraju under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) . The officer was subsequently suspended pending investigation. The allegations have raised serious concerns about custodial violence , police accountability, and adherence to legal procedures in handling detainees.

As public pressure mounted, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered a high-level inquiry and assured the victim's family that justice would be served. The government later constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior officers to conduct a comprehensive probe into the allegations. Investigators are examining witness statements, digital records, CCTV footage, and other evidence linked to the case.

The issue has also become a major political flashpoint. YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a sharp attack on the government, questioning whether Sai Krishna was alive or dead and demanding answers regarding his whereabouts. He also sought an explanation for the delay in action despite an FIR having been registered days earlier.

Adding to the controversy, former Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) has called for the case to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) , arguing that allegations against local police personnel warrant an independent inquiry to ensure public confidence in the outcome.

Meanwhile, fresh allegations have emerged against Nagaraju in connection with the death of Perupogu Kranthi Kumar , a Dalit youth. A selfie video allegedly recorded by Kranthi Kumar before his death has gone viral, with the youth claiming that he was subjected to mental and physical harassment by the officer. Congress leaders have demanded a separate and impartial investigation into those allegations as well.

With the arrest of the suspended inspector, the case has entered a critical phase. However, key questions regarding Sai Krishna's fate, the circumstances of his alleged death, and claims of a secret cremation remain unanswered. As the SIT probe gathers pace, the outcome is expected to have significant legal, political, and institutional ramifications across Andhra Pradesh.