AP High Court Defers CBI Probe Plea in Sai Krishna Custodial Death Case
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has postponed a decision on a CBI probe into the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna. The court intends to wait for the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) before proceeding further, with the next hearing scheduled for July 6.
Highlights
- •The Andhra Pradesh High Court has deferred the plea for a CBI probe into Gade Sai Krishna’s death.
- •The court will await the results of the ongoing SIT investigation before taking further action.
- •Petitioner G. Srinivasa Rao alleges custodial torture and argues the current probe is insufficient.
- •The next hearing for the case is officially scheduled for July 6.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has formally decided to postpone ruling on a plea requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna. The court stated it would first await the findings from the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) regarding the incident at the Krishnalanka police station.
This legal development follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by G. Srinivasa Rao, the president of the Society for Protection of Constitutional Rights. The petitioner has sought a high-level central investigation, citing significant concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Gade Sai Krishna while in police custody.
Concerns Over Custodial Death Investigation
During the hearing before a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice N. Jayasurya, legal representatives for the petitioner, led by counsel Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy, argued that the victim faced severe custodial torture. The counsel contended that the police department's current handling of the matter is insufficient and potentially misleading, thereby justifying the need for an independent CBI investigation.
The legal team outlined the sequence of events, stating that a task force had originally taken Gade Sai Krishna from Markapuram and subsequently transferred him to the custody of Krishnalanka CI Nagaraju. Shortly after this transfer, the individual reportedly died, leading to the ongoing legal controversy and public outcry regarding custodial death investigation standards.
State Government’s Response and Future Proceedings
Representing the state government, Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas addressed the bench, affirming that the administration is committed to ensuring a transparent and impartial inquiry into the death of Gade Sai Krishna. He further informed the court that CI Nagaraju, who had been suspended following the incident, has already been arrested and presented before a magistrate to face the judicial process.
After reviewing the arguments presented by both the petitioner and the state government, the high court bench chose to maintain its stance on waiting for the results of the SIT probe. The matter has been officially adjourned, with the next hearing date scheduled for July 6. This delay reflects the court's cautious approach in allowing the current investigative body sufficient time to uncover the facts surrounding this high-profile custodial death investigation before determining if further federal intervention is necessary.
