YSRCP State General Secretary and former Additional Advocate General Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy commented on the Supreme Court’s involvement in the Sai Krishna custodial death case, deeming it a critical setback for the coalition government and a harsh critique of the state police’s operations.
In Tadepalli, Andhra Pradesh, on September 24, Reddy held a press conference at the YSRCP Central Office, accompanied by Legal Cell State President Manohar Reddy and Working President Sudarshan Reddy. He shared that the Supreme Court expressed deep concern regarding the actions of senior police officials, even questioning, “Is the AP DGP sleeping?”
Sudhakar Reddy detailed that Sai Krishna was taken from Markapuram in May under the guise of executing a non-bailable warrant, only to endure custodial abuse. He noted that despite Sai Krishna’s mother reaching out to the DGP and Police Commissioner on May 28, no substantial action was taken. The police continued to list Sai Krishna as missing during the Habeas Corpus proceedings. Action from the police only occurred after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the victim’s family on June 18, leading to the registration of the case thereafter.
He mentioned that the YSRCP sought judicial intervention when the inquiry seemed limited to CI Nagaraju and a few lower-ranking officials, while senior officers evaded scrutiny. The Supreme Court, addressing a petition from MP Maddila Gurumoorthy, instructed that the records from related High Court proceedings be sent in a sealed cover and scheduled the next hearing for October 12.
Manohar Reddy revealed that essential CCTV footage from the Krishnalanka Police Station, the Central Command Room, and the DGP’s office had vanished. Sudarshan Reddy criticized the police system, which is meant to safeguard citizens, for failing to protect Sai Krishna. The YSRCP Legal Cell affirmed its commitment to pursue justice until accountability is established for all individuals involved in Sai Krishna’s death, the obscurity of his body, and the destruction of evidence.
