Railway Tennis Player's Bail Plea Rejected in Hyderabad Drug Bust
In a significant development in a drug peddling case, a local court in Hyderabad has dismissed the bail petition of P Siddarth, a 27-year-old railway employee who claims to be a national-level tennis player. Siddarth was arrested on March 29 by the Mokila police along with the Future City Special Operations Team (SOT) on charges of drug trafficking.
Arrest and Seizure Details
The arrest occurred on March 23 afternoon at Janwada, where Siddarth was apprehended along with two associates: Ch Himanth Krishna Vamshi, a 30-year-old businessman from Nizampet, and A Vishnu Teja, a 36-year-old businessman from Nacharam. The trio was traveling in Siddarth's personal sedan at the time of the arrest.
Police seized a substantial quantity of narcotics from the accused, including 39.72 grams of cocaine and 2.36 grams of ganja. According to the Mokila police, Siddarth is identified as the primary peddler, Vamshi as the middleman, and Teja as a consumer in the drug network.
Bail Petition and Court Proceedings
In the first week of April, Siddarth moved a bail petition before the local court in LB Nagar. His defense counsel argued that Siddarth was falsely implicated, highlighting his clean criminal record and sports background. "Petitioner is a tennis player and he played for state and national level for India. He secured a job in the railways. He was never involved in the present case," the counsel stated.
However, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail plea. The assistant public prosecutor alleged that Siddarth was the main supplier and kingpin in the case, with involvement in drug activities since 2023. "The accused has been continuously engaged in drug activities since 2023. The investigation is ongoing to identify suppliers, consumers and other associates," the prosecutor emphasized, urging the court to dismiss the petition.
Court's Decision and Reasoning
After hearing both sides, the court dismissed Siddarth's bail petition. The court observed that the quantity of seized drugs exceeded the 'small quantity' threshold, and there was a significant risk if bail was granted. "There is every likelihood of him repeating the similar offence or absconding and causing hurdle to the investigation," the court noted in its order.
Siddarth is currently in judicial remand, while among the other accused, Teja was granted bail in the second week of April, and Vamshi's bail plea is still under consideration.
Investigation and Confessions
During interrogation, Siddarth reportedly confessed that the contraband was supplied by a Goa-based peddler. Investigators are actively working to locate this supplier. A Mokila police officer commented on the case, stating, "Siddarth is a tennis player, who also played for the railways. It is sad that he ended up in a web of dealing narcotics. He also moved a bail petition in high court. We will file a counter."
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by Hyderabad police to combat drug trafficking, with Siddarth's sports background adding a layer of complexity to the proceedings. The investigation continues as authorities seek to unravel the full extent of the drug network involved.
