Mother’s shocking claim in custodial death case

The mother of Gade Sai Krishna, whose alleged custodial death has sparked outrage in Andhra Pradesh, has claimed that a police inspector threatened her by saying, “I will kill your son, get a garland ready for his photo.” 

Metro India News | VIJAYAWADA

The mother of Gade Sai Krishna, whose alleged custodial death has sparked outrage in Andhra Pradesh, has claimed that a police inspector threatened her by saying, “I will kill your son, get a garland ready for his photo.” In a complaint filed on June 19, Gade Vijaya Lakshmi accused former Krishna Lanka police inspector SSVV Nagaraju of torturing her son to death and secretly cremating his body without informing the family. Lakshmi alleged that when she visited the police station after learning her son had been detained, Nagaraju threatened and abused her.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, arrested Nagaraju and produced him before a Vijayawada court on Wednesday. The court remanded him to 14 days’ judicial custody. According to the SIT’s remand report, Sai Krishna was brought to Krishna Lanka police station in early May but was never produced before a magistrate as required by law. Investigators said evidence collected so far points to Sai Krishna suffering fatal injuries while in police custody. Lakshmi told investigators she saw her son in the lock-up with visible injuries, heard his cries for help and later saw him unconscious with his legs tied.

The report also states that lawyers accompanying her were allegedly threatened and turned away. The SIT further alleged that police misled the High Court by claiming Sai Krishna’s whereabouts were unknown despite his detention. Investigators described this as a deliberate attempt to suppress facts and obstruct justice. Adding to the mystery, CCTV footage from Krishna Lanka police station between May 1 and June 1 is reportedly missing. The SIT has sought continued custody of Nagaraju, saying he is not cooperating and that further interrogation is needed to trace Sai Krishna’s body and identify others involved.