Overview
- The High Court on July 7 granted the Special Investigation Team permission to question suspended SHO S.S.V.V. Nagaraju in police custody for eight days starting July 9 so investigators can gather information that may help reconstruct the alleged crime scene.
- The SIT is probing allegations that 25-year-old Gade Sai Krishna was illegally detained, tortured and killed after being picked up by police on May 6, and the investigation is being led by an IG-level officer.
- A criminal case was filed on June 19 under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after Sai Krishna’s mother complained her son was beaten to death in custody, leading to the arrest of Nagaraju on June 23 and four subordinate officers since then.
- Investigators have told courts that CCTV footage from Krishna Lanka police station was deliberately deleted and the High Court ordered that every movement of the accused during transit be videographed and unedited footage submitted to the magistrate.
- Lower-court safeguards such as continuous audio-video recording of interrogation and initial restriction of questioning to Rajamahendravaram Central Jail prompted prosecutors to seek broader custody so the SIT can collect physical evidence and attempt to locate Sai Krishna’s body.