SIT Finds Police Destroyed Evidence in Custodial Death Case
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna has found that constables and head constables at the Krishnalanka police station destroyed evidence related to the case. The SIT also reported that the accused officers are not cooperating with the investigation.
On Tuesday night, the SIT arrested head constables Jangam Nani and Potarlanka Ashok and produced them before a court. The next day, constable Kaitepalli Babu Rao and head constable Goriparthi Sambabai were produced before the Second Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
Earlier, Circle Inspector S.S.V.V. Nagaraju was arrested and is currently in judicial custody. On Thursday, the court granted an eight-day police custody of Nagaraju starting July 3, after the SIT sought 12 days. The court directed that Nagaraju be questioned in Rajamahendravaram.
SIT officials stated that evidence indicates Nani and Ashok were involved in the wrongful confinement and custodial torture of Sai Krishna. The investigation revealed that head constable Sambaiah and constable Babu Rao deleted CCTV footage and other digital evidence related to Sai Krishna's illegal custody and torture.
During questioning, the constables refused to answer queries. Nani and Ashok claimed they had sold their mobile phones to unknown persons in Nagpur, the SIT told the court.
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) state general secretary Y. Rajesh and secretary G. Rohit issued a statement on Thursday demanding a judicial magistrate inquiry into the death, asserting that Sai Krishna was subjected to custodial torture and died in custody.
