Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan directly ordered a probe into the alleged activities of Bhimavaram DSP Jayasurya, bypassing the Home Department.
Published Oct 22, 2025 | 3:56 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 22, 2025 | 3:56 PM
Pawan Kalyan. (X)
Synopsis: The deputy chief minister’s direct intervention—seen as bypassing the chain of command—surprised many within government circles, prompting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to convene a review meeting with the home minister and DGP.
A fresh political storm is brewing in Andhra Pradesh after Jana Sena Party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan ordered a formal inquiry into the alleged gambling camps in the state in the wake of similar allegations against Bhimavaram DSP Jayasurya.
The probe, announced on Tuesday, 21 October, stirred a hornet’s nest, with critics questioning whether Kalyan—whose portfolio is Panchayati Raj and Rural Development—has overstepped to interfere in Home Affairs, a portfolio held by another minister.
According to NDA insiders, the action follows complaints from alliance leaders alleging that DSP Jayasurya turned a blind eye to—and even encouraged—gambling clubs in the Bhimavaram area, in violation of the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974, which prohibits both online and offline gambling.
The officer is also accused of meddling in civil disputes between private parties, raising red flags over police neutrality and the creeping influence of corruption.
Moving swiftly, Kalyan asked the West Godavari SP, Adnan Nayeem Asmi, a detailed report on the DSP’s conduct. He reportedly made it clear that “officers aiding unlawful practices or displaying bias will face strict action.”
Kalyan also instructed his office to brief Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha and DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, directing the latter to submit a statewide report on illegal gambling operations as part of an overall enforcement review.
The deputy chief minister’s direct intervention—seen as bypassing the chain of command—surprised many within government circles, prompting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to convene a review meeting with the home minister and DGP.
Questions are now swirling over whether Kalyan’s move amounts to infringing upon another minister’s turf, given that policing comes squarely under the Home Department. However, his supporters argue that as the deputy chief minister, he has every right to act against governance lapses, especially when allegations pour in from across the state.
Downplaying talk of discord, Home Minister Anitha, speaking after a law and order review meeting, said there was “nothing wrong in seeking a report.” It is an official communication.
“As deputy chief minister, he is well within his rights to request details,” she clarified, adding that her department already has the relevant report and will respond appropriately. She emphasised that the TDP, Jana Sena, and BJP remain on the same page. Anitha also hit out at attempts to politicise the issue, reiterating that the NDA government’s focus remains firmly on good governance and coordination.
The controversy comes at a time when the state government is tightening the screws on illegal gambling—an activity often linked to organised crime. Complaints of police complicity and enforcement failures have been piling up across multiple districts, suggesting a deeper malaise in the state’s law enforcement machinery.
The episode is being seen as an early stress test for the NDA coalition’s internal harmony, especially as the government tackles the growing pains of power-sharing since the 2024 elections—where Jana Sena’s support was crucial in securing the TDP’s return to office.
This was not the first time Kalyan has courted controversy for stepping into matters outside his ministerial domain. His political playbook shows a pattern of interventions that blur administrative lines:
4 November 2024: In Pithapuram, Kalyan lashed out at the Home Minister Anitha over alleged lapses in law and order, particularly crimes against women, warning that he might “take charge of the Home portfolio” if things didn’t improve.
10 November 2024: He accused former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and YSRCP leaders of intimidating IPS officers and misusing the police for political ends, calling for legal action and greater accountability.
20 May 2025: Kalyan sparked controversy by directing police to stay vigilant against alleged illegal Rohingya settlements, a move widely seen as overstepping his administrative brief.
21 October 2025: His latest directive concerning DSP Jayasurya once again pushed the envelope—triggering a jurisdictional debate but ultimately defended by the Home Minister as within his rights.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
