Major Drug Bust in Hyderabad Implicates High-Profile Politicians and Businessmen
In a shocking development from Hyderabad, a drug bust at a farmhouse in Moinabad has escalated with Andhra Pradesh MP Putta Mahesh Kumar of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) testing positive for methamphetamine. This comes just a day after BRS leader and former Tandur MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy, along with four others, tested positive for cocaine during the same raid.
Expanding Investigation and Legal Actions
Police officials confirmed that among the 11 high-profile individuals gathered at the farmhouse on Saturday, six have now tested positive for drugs. Apart from Rohith Reddy and Mahesh Kumar, the others include Rithesh Reddy Pajugula (businessman and brother of Rohith), Tiruveedula Arjun Reddy (businessman), Kaushik Ravi (advocate), and Namith Sharma (a businessman from Delhi). All 11 have been booked for violations under the Prohibition and Excise Act.
DCP (Moinabad) Yogesh Gautham stated that of the six who tested positive, Namith Sharma, Rohith Reddy, and Rithesh Reddy face additional charges under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The remaining three, including the TDP MP, have been booked solely under the NDPS Act. Sharma has also been charged under Sections 109 (attempt to murder) and 131 (punishment for assault) of the BNS for allegedly firing a revolver at police during the raid, though no injuries were reported.
Deception and Forensic Evidence
Investigators revealed a twist in the case: Mahesh Kumar initially tested negative during a urine test on Saturday night. However, police suspect he filled the sample cup with water from a washroom instead of urine. A subsequent blood test on Sunday confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. The five others who tested positive for cocaine on Saturday also reconfirmed positive in the blood test.
Police seized about two grams of a white substance from the property, suspected to be cocaine, and sent it for forensic examination. They believe both cocaine and methamphetamine were used at the party, with the drugs allegedly brought by Kaushik Ravi from Shimla. According to a police complaint, some of the substance was distributed at the party, while the remainder was handed to Rohith Reddy's driver, Sharath Kumar, for later use. Authorities also suspect that a portion of the drugs was flushed away when police entered the premises.
Political Repercussions and Reactions
The raid, conducted by EAGLE sleuths based on a tip-off, found the 11 individuals sitting around a swimming pool with hookah pots, liquor, and other items. While Rohith Reddy, Sharma, and Rithesh were arrested, the other three, including Mahesh Kumar, were released on station bail after being served notices.
In response, TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the state party leadership to submit a detailed report on the incident. The party high command has reportedly asked Mahesh Kumar to stay away from party programmes until the matter is clarified. Meanwhile, BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned drug use, stating his willingness to undergo a drug test and supporting strict punishment for anyone involved, regardless of political affiliation.
This case highlights growing concerns about drug abuse among public figures and underscores the need for stringent enforcement of anti-drug laws in India.
