SIT Confirms Death of AP Man in Police Custody; Evidence Suppression Suspected

A Special Investigation Team probe confirmed that Gade Sai Krishna, 25, died in police custody in Andhra Pradesh following allegations of illegal detention and evidence suppression. The SIT investigation identified critical lapses: (1) CCTV footage from custody period mysteriously missing; (2) No FIR initially registered for the death; (3) Allegation of custodial torture or negligent medical care; (4) Family claims of illegal arrest without warrant. This incident exemplifies endemic custodial death problems in Indian policing—a perennial UPSC topic. Legal framework violations: (1) Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Sections 41-42 (arrest procedures), 161-162 (interrogation); (2) Article 21 rights (dignity, life); (3) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (torture prohibition); (4) Supreme Court guidelines on custodial interrogation. Previous landmark cases: D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (custodial violence safeguards), Rajendra Prasad v. State of UP. For UPSC: (1) Police accountability mechanisms; (2) Judicial oversight of police action; (3) SIT investigations in controversial deaths; (4) Evidence tampering by law enforcement; (5) Compensation and criminal prosecution frameworks; (6) Police reforms. Exam angle: Human rights, rule of law, institutional accountability, police brutality, investigative procedures. Constitutional angle: Articles 19, 21, 22 (personal liberty); 32 (right to constitutional remedy). State accountability under tort law.