Published Sep 05, 2026 | 9:56 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2026 | 10:27 PM
YSRCP demanded a CBI probe into large-scale irregularities in recruitments under sports quota.
Synopsis: Allegations of large-scale discrepancies and irregularities in recruitment under the sports quota included suspicious certificates issued for sporting competitions such as judo, softball, ball badminton, and fencing. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court claimed to have provided preliminary evidence of irregularities, listing at least 29 instances of false claims and fake certificates. The Bench of Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Balaji Medamalli has listed the matter for hearing on 7 October 2026.
Certificates for sporting events that had never taken place, non-athletes producing certificates claiming to be professional sportspersons, claims of victory that don’t match official records, athletes who produced certificates for events they never competed in but managed to land government jobs despite questionable credentials and suspicious certificates: these, in a nutshell, are the allegations levelled against Andhra Pradesh Mega District Selection Committee (DSC) 2025 recruitments under the sports quota.
While the appointments have sparked a political war of words between the opposition YSRCP and the ruling TDP-led NDA, worrying details about how jobs were offered to candidates with allegedly false certificates and fictitious claims have started to emerge.
In one such case, a candidate who didn’t clear the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is said to have obtained a job as a Secondary Grade Teacher (SGT) under the sports quota in Vallur, Kurnool district.
The N Chandrababu Naidu-led government has ordered an inquiry into allegations of fake claims and fictitious certificates being used to secure government jobs. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) registered an FIR on 14 August 2026 based on a complaint by RK Purushotham, President of the Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association.
The opposition YSRCP, however, has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into what it termed as large-scale irregularities in sports-quota appointments.
Also Read: Jagan dares CM Naidu to order CBI probe into alleged DSC recruitment scam
Allegations of large-scale discrepancies and irregularities in recruitment under the sports quota included suspicious certificates issued for sporting competitions such as judo, softball, ball badminton, and fencing.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court claimed to have provided preliminary evidence of irregularities, listing at least 29 instances of false claims and fake certificates. The Bench of Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Balaji Medamalli has listed the matter for hearing on 7 October 2026.
In some instances, dates, venues, and event categories cited on the certificates did not match the official event schedules; in others, the names of candidates claiming victories in sporting events did not appear in official records, the PIL stated.
Olympic Association sources expressed doubt that about 80 to 100 ineligible candidates might have secured government jobs under the sports quota using false certificates and claims. Serious allegations of people with no connection to sports have secured jobs under the sports quota have put the Naidu government in a tight spot.
The PIL cited an example. It said a 41-year-old woman in Srikakulam district allegedly secured a job using a javelin event certificate. Her daughter reportedly secured an MBBS seat citing excellence in fencing and is currently in her fourth year.
It has also been alleged that obscure sports associations with no known presence issued certificates to women above the age of 40, declaring them medal winners in athletics and helping them win government teaching jobs.
Adding to Chief Minister Naidu’s woes, his kin and Visakhapatnam TDP MP, Matukumilli Sri Bharat, is the honorary president of the Judo Association, which is facing allegations of irregularities.
The YSRCP’s accusation that TDP Yuva Galam members were among those who had secured jobs under the sports quota has further complicated matters for the ruling party.
Also Read: Mega DSC 2025 to recruit over 16,000 teachers
The PIL alleged that around 30 people obtained jobs in the DSC 2025 recruitment process using fake judo competition certificates. It has been alleged that the certificates submitted during recruitment did not match the official records.
Participation and merit certificates issued by the Andhra Pradesh Judo Association did not match Form-2 and Form-4 entry lists, lists of athletes who participated in competitions, result sheets, merit lists and district-level records.
Form-2 is a certificate issued to athletes for participating in national-level events. It is issued only for competitions held in other states. With the national federation’s permission, the secretary of the respective state sports association issues the certificates.
However, in Andhra Pradesh, such certificates were allegedly issued even for district-level competitions, mandal-level competitions and competitions conducted at colleges.
Form 4 is issued to school students participating in the All India School Games. Some individuals submitted both Form 2 and Form 4 at the same time, raising suspicions.
The PIL made further allegations:
The allegations ruled out a clerical error, but pointed to a systematic irregularity in sports quota appointments.
Also Read: YS Jagan calls DSC recruitment a ‘mega’ scam
The PIL highlighted a case involving one Mitnasala Sudharani. She was deemed qualified under the sports quota after submitting a senior championship certificate.
Her certificate claimed that she had secured second place in the 52 kg category in the “Senior Inter-District Judo Championship held at the Varthaka Sangham in Khammam from 19 to 21 October 2013”. However, no senior-level event had taken place, as claimed in the certificate.
Official records showed that only the Junior Inter-District Championship was held in Khammam on those dates. The senior championship was held in Hyderabad on 28 and 29 December 2013.
A letter dated 4 July 2026 from Khammam District Judo Association’s General Secretary and Tournament organising Secretary Jallela Srinivas Rao read:
“This is to certify and confirm that the State Inter-District Judo Championship conducted at Khammam from 19th to 21st October 2013 was held only in the Junior Category. It has come to our notice that the same venue and dates have allegedly been misused in connection with the Andhra Pradesh DSC–2025 Sports Quota by claiming that a Senior Category State Championship was also conducted. Based on the information available to us, the certificates purportedly issued for the Senior Category during the above-mentioned event appear to be fabricated and forged.”
Another candidate, Desavath Chandra Nayak, submitted a certificate claiming second place in the 66 kg category judo competition. Although the certificate claimed that he had participated in competitions held in Khammam, the competitions were actually held in Hyderabad.
The same was the case with Riyazulla Nalbandi, whose certificate claimed he had won second place in the 73 kg category in Khammam.
The PIL alleged that yet another candidate, Sheikh Inam Hussain, submitted a certificate claiming he had won a medal in the 73 kg category in the competition held from 11 to 13 November 2014. However, official records showed K Harikrishna had won in the category, and the event was held on 28 and 29 November 2014.
The PIL listed 29 such instances in which certificates either required cross-verification or contradicted official records.
It has been alleged that around 30 people obtained jobs through questionable certificates for judo, 16 for ball badminton, 14 for softball and around 40 through other sports in the DSC.
A total of 39 candidates had secured jobs under the sports quota for judo, and questions have been raised about the eligibility of 29 of them.
The Olympic Association has repeatedly complained to the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), alleging irregularities in the Andhra Pradesh Judo Association’s issuance of certificates. However, the authorities reportedly ignored the complaints.
The Association also alleged that it had complained in 2025 about irregularities in the verification of DSC sports certificates but received no response from the government. It is now demanding an impartial inquiry, stating that while many genuinely eligible candidates obtained jobs under the sports quota, ineligible candidates, too, secured appointments.
As many as 382 people obtained jobs under the sports quota in Mega DSC. Only an inquiry could determine how many of them were ineligible. Notably, many of those appointed were from North Andhra and Rayalaseema districts.
The YSRCP has been protesting for the past few months, alleging irregularities in DSC recruitment. It alleged that jobs were “sold”. The selection of a candidate for an SGT post in Kauthalam, Kurnool district, despite not being TET-qualified, has added to the controversy.
Meanwhile, the government reportedly suspended Big TV Telugu’s Instagram account. The YSRCP alleged that the account was blocked for exposing irregularities in the DSC recruitment process. An X post from Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that Sakshi TV – associated with YSRCP – was also a target of censorship by the Naidu government.
Hello India!
The DSC 2025 recruitment scam is unravelling day by day, with fresh evidence and facts surfacing from different parts of the state, exposing serious irregularities and raising questions that the @ncbn -led TDP coalition government must answer. Instead of answering… pic.twitter.com/bVD6zHDFDC
— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) September 5, 2026
Following allegations that one of the recruits, Prabhakar, had not qualified in TET, the School Education Department issued a statement claiming that it had initiated a departmental inquiry after learning about the incident. Senior officials were monitoring the inquiry process, it added.
Kurnool DEO reportedly initiated the inquiry and obtained the relevant records and verification files for a comprehensive examination. The department said that once it receives the inquiry report, it would initiate appropriate action under recruitment and service rules.
The School Education Department stated that it followed complete transparency and merit-based selection procedures in the Mega DSC-2025 recruitment process.
South First approached School Education Commissioner Tameem Ansaria for a response on the allegations. This report will be updated once and when the official responds.
Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman Ravi Naidu responded to the allegations.
Speaking to South First, he claimed that the allegations regarding the DSC sports quota will be reviewed and decided at a higher level, adding that the government has no intention of covering up the issue.
He asked why the opposition was levelling allegations a year after the posts were filled.
Responding to a specific query on the case of Kurnool-based Prabhakar, he said, “The issue arose due to the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), not a sports-related discrepancy.” He pointed out that sports associations recognise athletes and issue certificates, which SAAP officials must then verify. “What do elected public representatives have to do with this process?” he questioned.
He noted that the government conducted grievance redressal sessions three times in the past year, yet no one submitted evidence. He asserted that if any wrongdoing had occurred, those responsible would face strict action.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education Nara Lokesh has been reiterating his willingness to discuss the allegations with YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy. However, the opposition has not provided a comprehensive explanation for the allegations.
After allegations concerning the DSC sports quota emerged, only officials from the Education Department and SAAP have held press conferences to explain the issue. Konashashidhar, who oversaw the DSC recruitment process, told a press conference that he had no role in sports quota appointments. He was subsequently transferred.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
