Photo taken in cinema hall lands seven errant sub-inspectors in trouble

While fans of ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi erupted in joy and broke into a dance to watch the ‘first day, first show’ of his latest movie Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy on Wednesday, seven sub-inspectors of police in Kurnool district had to face the music.

Also read | ‘Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy’ review: Chiranjeevi leads from the front in this story of valour

The policemen now face disciplinary action after they “bunked” their duties to watch the new release.

The day saw overwhelming excitement among fans of Chiranjeevi as this was a project he had taken up after a long gap. The movie opened in cinemas across the country in different languages.

People could not wait to see their favourite star essaying the role of the freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. “The first day, first show” craze was all-pervasive with fans ready to do anything to get inside the cinemas.

Apparently, so were police officers.

The lucky ones who made it included a set of seven young sub-inspectors from Bandi Atmakur, Nandivargam, Kolimigundla, Allagadda Special Branch, Racharla, Owk, and Gospadu in Kurnool district, who gave their duties the go-by and went to a cinema in Koilakuntla for a special early morning show.

One of them, perhaps overjoyed by the festive mood, captured the moment by clicking a picture and posting it on a social media platform after the show. Little did he or the others realise that this would land them in trouble.

The image was brought to the notice of the Superintendent of Police K. Fakeerappa, who asked the Deputy Superintendents of Police of Nandyal, Allagadda and Dhone to hold an inquiry against the erring sub-inspectors.

Even though it was an early morning show, what seems to have ticked off the SP was that these officers gathered at a theatre in Koilakuntla from different mandals.

No leave sought

The errant policemen had not sought permission nor did they apply for leave. Apart from that a major reason for initiating action against them was the fact that it was Gandhi Jayanti. Also, Village Secretariats, a welfare delivery scheme by the Andhra Pradesh government, was to be inaugurated on Wednesday.

“The sub-inspectors picked a wrong day to skip work,” said the officer. “If it were any other day, they might even have gotten away with it!”