Sai Krishna custodial death: SIT says victim died in abandoned building, not police station

According to the report, Sai was allegedly beaten by then CI SSVV Nagaraju and head constables Ashok and Jangam Nani at the police station.

Special investigation team probing the custodial death of 24-year-old youth Gade Sai Krishna produced the accused SSVV Nagaraju before the court on Center-Center-Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna has departed from its earlier account, stating in the remand report of the fourth accused, Suresh, that the victim did not die inside the Krishna Lanka police station.

According to the report, Sai was allegedly beaten by then CI SSVV Nagaraju and head constables Ashok and Jangam Nani at the police station. On Nagaraju’s instructions, he was subsequently shifted to an abandoned private building at Ranigari Thota, under the Krishna Lanka police station limits, to avoid suspicion.

The report stated that Suresh, a close associate of Nagaraju, went to the building on May 12 to meet the CI and saw Sai in a critical condition. Sai allegedly told Suresh that the police were beating him with the intention of killing him. He reportedly collapsed and died while speaking to Suresh.

The SIT further alleged that the body was wrapped in a blanket and transported on a motorcycle during the intervening night of May 12 and 13. Nagaraju, Ashok and Suresh allegedly cremated the body at Swargapuri and remained there until it was completely burnt. Suresh allegedly returned on May 18 to check whether any traces remained.

The report also stated that Suresh had accompanied Nagaraju on night rounds and witnessed Sai being interrogated by Nagaraju, Ashok and Nani on May 7. Photographs allegedly taken while Sai was in custody were deleted from Head Constable Satyanarayana’s phone on Nagaraju’s orders.

After being produced before the court, Suresh was remanded till September 24 and shifted to Nuzvid jail.

It may be recalled that the SIT had earlier reported that Sai suffered fatal injuries while in custody.

The HC permitted the SIT to take Nagaraju to locations connected with the case for crime-scene reconstruction and evidence collection. The SIT is likely to file another petition seeking the custody of prime accused Nagaraju and others involved in the case.