Jagan condemns Sankhavarappadu incident: says accident reflects deteriorating state of law and order

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday (August 17, 2026) alleged that ganja and liquor bottles found in a vehicle carrying two police officers in Prakasam district reflected the deteriorating state of law and order in Andhra Pradesh.

In a post on ‘X,’ Mr. Jagan, while referring to the incident at Sankhavarappadu in Addanki mandal, alleged that a vehicle carrying two sub-inspectors. It was allegedly being driven by a person under the influence of alcohol, collided with an auto, seriously injuring its occupants.

He claimed that the two SIs were additionally in an intoxicated condition, while ganja, liquor, and a police uniform were found in the boot of the vehicle after the accident. “When people gathered at the spot started recording videos, a Circle Inspector who arrived at the scene allegedly threatened them with false cases if they continued filming,” Mr. Jagan alleged.

“Is exposing the truth a crime? Is questioning wrongdoing an offence?” he asked, alleging that the incident raised serious questions over the functioning of the police system.

He further stated that the two police officers had organised private parties where liquor and ganja were consumed and claimed that a number of leaders of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had participated. He also maintained that local TDP leaders had helped the police personnel leave the scene after the accident.

The Former Chief Minister said that the incident should not be dismissed as an isolated occurrence and alleged that the administration institutions have been used over the past two years for ‘political vendetta’ and to silence opponents. He accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of allowing the police machinery to be misused for political interests.

He stated that the Chief Minister was focusing on cases against political opponents instead of strengthening law and order and cleansing the police system.

The YSRCP president urged the Chief Minister to order an impartial investigation into the incident and take action against those responsible, irrespective of their political or official position. He also appealed to the administration not to harass people who had recorded videos of the incident or apply its influence to suppress the facts.

He urged the administration not to divert attention from the incident or attempt to cover it up through its media network, and urged action based on the findings of an independent investigation.