Idhu Namma Station Appa! Five Karnataka Policemen Suspended for Playing Cards in Station

Five police officers from Wadi police station in Kalaburagi district were suspended on Wednesday after a video surfaced showing them playing cards inside the station, igniting public outrage.

The incident, caught on a seven-second clip that went viral, prompted swift action from Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu, who issued the suspension order and sought a report from Sub-Inspector Tirumallesh.

The suspended officers—Assistant Sub-Inspector Mehmood Miya, head constables Nagaraj, Saibanna, and Imam, and constable Nagabushan—were filmed engrossed in a game of rummy, some in uniform. In the footage, one officer is seen objecting to being recorded, but the video spread rapidly online.

Police sources allege a woman constable shot the clip some time ago, reportedly attempting to blackmail her colleagues, though the timing remains unconfirmed. “Even if it’s old, gambling inside a station is unacceptable,” a senior officer told reporters.

The episode has drawn sharp criticism, with locals and netizens slamming the officers for neglecting duty in a district where police routinely crack down on public gambling. Posts on X echoed the sentiment, with users decrying the irony of law enforcers flouting rules they enforce.