On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the Anantapur police firmly denied allegations that a person accused of gambling had died while in their custody due to torture. Instead, authorities stated that the individual passed away from a heart attack.
Contrasting reports had suggested that M. Rama Krishna Naik, aged 35, who was apprehended with four others on gambling charges, had succumbed to police torture during his detention. In response to these serious allegations, Superintendent of Police P. Jagadeesh promptly ordered a thorough investigation.
According to Anantapur Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police T. Venkatesulu, the events unfolded after Singanamala Sub-Inspector of Police P. Vijay Kumar received intelligence about gambling activities. On September 14, at approximately 10:30 p.m., police raided Nagulaguddam Tanda in Singanamala mandal. There, they found Rama Krishna, along with Rohith Naik, Bhaskar Naik, Gopal Naik, and Suresh Naik, engaged in a game of ‘manga-patta.’ Officers confiscated ₹7,650 in cash and 52 playing cards.
Mr. Venkatesulu further explained that local community elders, including Sudarshan Naik and Sreenivasulu Naik, intervened at the scene. They appealed to the police not to arrest the individuals immediately, promising that all five would report to the Singanamala police station the following day. However, on September 15, around 9:00 a.m., Rama Krishna reported chest pain and was promptly taken to Garladinne Primary Health Centre for medical attention.
For more comprehensive care, he was then transferred to the Singanamala Community Health Centre (CHC). The DSP stated that at 10:30 a.m., his family members admitted him to the CHC, where duty doctor Rohinath began treatment. Tragically, at 10:50 a.m., Rama Krishna experienced severe chest pain, followed by a sudden heart stroke. By 11:40 a.m., medical professionals at the CHC officially pronounced him deceased.
The DSP emphatically dismissed claims of the individuals being brought to the police station and subjected to torture as false. He concluded by mentioning that a review of CCTV footage from the police station confirmed no presence or movement of the gambling suspects within the premises.