The AP High Court has delivered a key verdict in the Gadde Sai Krishna custodial torture case that created a sensation across the state. It issued orders today transferring the investigation of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It also ordered the state government to pay a compensation of Rs. 25 lakh to the victim's mother within four weeks.

Going into details... 25-year-old Sai Krishna was arrested by the Task Force police near Markapuram in May 2026 in a case of some non-bailable warrants. Later, he was shifted to Krishna Lanka Police Station in Vijayawada. However, he was not produced before the magistrate and his whereabouts went missing after that. Due to this, Sai Krishna's mother Gadde Vijayalakshmi filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government conducted an inquiry into the case and concluded that Sai Krishna died due to the torture that took place in custody between May 6 and 8. Several police personnel, including the then CI, were arrested and a charge sheet was filed on charges of illegal detention, deletion of CCTV footage, and secret disposal of the body.

However, Saikrishna's mother and others filed petitions in the High Court, alleging that the state police investigation was not being conducted impartially and that the case should be handed over to the CBI. The high court, which heard these petitions, clarified that it was transferring the case to the CBI, considering that a thorough investigation was necessary. It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court had also previously monitored the investigation of this case and raised questions about the delay in registering the FIR and the disappearance of evidence.