How a temple visit by a BRS MLA triggered a police row and IPS backlash in Telangana
HYDERABAD: A clash between a senior police officer and a sitting MLA in Telangana has escalated into a significant political and legal issue.
At the centre of the storm are Gaush Alam IPS, the Commissioner of Police for Karimnagar district, and Padi Kaushik Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLA from Huzurabad. Besides, the incident, which occurred on January 29, 2026, has since spiralled into a formal Privilege Motion against the police and a strong condemnation from the entire cadre of IPS officers in the state.
Furthermore, two conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the events at the Sammakka-Saralamma Temple in Huzurabad.
Gaush Alam IPS vs Padi Kaushik Reddy
The MLA’s Account: In an official letter to the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly dated January 30, MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy says his rights were seriously violated. To add to this, he says that while visiting the temple in his area with his family, police officers under CP Gaush Alam IPS stopped him for no good reason, ignored proper rules, and, in a very disrespectful way, forced him off the temple’s sacred platform, stopping him from praying. He says this directly blocked him from doing his official duties and insulted the Assembly.
The Police & IPS Association’s Account: The Telangana IPS Officers’ Association, in a press release issued the same day, gives a different view. It says the MLA’s claims against CP Gaush Alam IPS are harmful and not true. The Association also says the MLA’s complaint went beyond normal rules, claiming that Kaushik Reddy made up stories about the officer’s religion and accused him of trying to convert people. The press release does not include the exact words to keep things respectful, but says the comments were a serious attack on the spirit, independence, and respect of the civil services.
In this context, the situation escalated with the introduction of a religious allegation. Viral social media videos show Kaushik Reddy explicitly linking the police action to the CP’s religious identity, stating, “Since he is a Muslim, the police officer is ruining the Hindu religion (supposedly by obstructing him)”.
Additionally, this communal rhetoric has prompted strong backlash. “The Association views this episode as a serious attack on the morale, independence, and dignity of the civil services. The Association hereby demands an immediate, unconditional public apology from Padi Kaushik Reddy, MLA. We shall also call upon the appropriate authorities to take cognizance of this grave misconduct of a sitting legislator,” read the statement released by the IPS Association.
Alongside that, the Speaker’s decision on the Privilege Motion is the next important step. If an investigation is started, it will look into the police’s side of the story, including any safety concerns or broken rules that might explain their actions.
