Why Eenadu is Trending: Investigative Report on Saikrishna Custodial Death

The Surge in Eenadu Searches

In September 2026, the Telugu news portal eenadu (ఈనాడు) saw a significant spike in search interest across India. According to Google Trends data observed on 20 September 2026, there was a 100% growth in searches for the term within a 24-hour window (source). This trend was driven by the outlet's detailed investigative reporting on the alleged custodial death of Gade Saikrishna, a former police officer.

The Saikrishna Custodial Death Case

On 20 September 2026, Eenadu published a report detailing the harrowing circumstances surrounding the death of Saikrishna. The report, based on a Special Investigation Team (SIT) remand report, alleges that Saikrishna was not held at a police station but was instead moved to a deserted building belonging to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Krishnalanka to avoid public suspicion (source).

The SIT findings suggest a coordinated effort to torture the victim and subsequently cover up the crime. Key allegations include:

• Secret Detention: The victim was held in a dilapidated building in Nehru Nagar, Krishnalanka, which had become a hub for antisocial activities.
• Torture and Death: The remand report states that Saikrishna was beaten severely until he lost consciousness and passed away on 12 May 2026.
• Illegal Cremation: To hide the evidence, the body was allegedly transported via motorcycle at midnight, wrapped in a blanket, to the Swargapuri cremation ground and burned on a cement platform.
• Evidence Destruction: The SIT alleges that CCTV footage and photographs taken during the custody were deleted on the orders of CI Nagaraju.

Key Accused and Legal Proceedings

The investigation has named several individuals as key actors in the crime. These include former CI Nagaraju (A1), head constables Ashok and Nani, and a real-estate dealer named Suresh Kumar. According to reports from Andhra Jyothy on 19 September 2026, Suresh Kumar, a close associate of Nagaraju, provided critical details in the remand report, including the claim that Saikrishna told him, "since they brought me here, they have been beating me every day with the intention to kill me" (source).

Further details from Samayam Telugu on 27 September 2026 indicate that the SIT has seized bone fragments, motorcycles, and CCTV footage as evidence. The court has placed Suresh Kumar in judicial remand until 24 September 2026, transferring him to Nuzvid sub-jail (source).