A late-night raid at a farmhouse near Moinabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad has drawn national attention after Telangana police announced that a sitting MP, Putta Mahesh Yadav from Elur in Andhra Pradesh and a former MLA, Pilot Rohit Reddy, tested positive for drugs.
Talking to the media, EAGLE SP R. Giridhar said that they arrested 11 people from a farmhouse of Pilot Rohit Reddy in Moinabad, Ranga Reddy district, on the night of March 14. The police had made the arrests after receiving intelligence inputs about a private gathering where drugs were allegedly being consumed.
When police arrived, a total of 11 people, including businessmen, real estate figures and political personalities, were present at the party. Police detained those present and conducted on-the-spot urine drug tests.
Local media reported that five people tested positive in the initial test: Rohit Reddy, Namit Sharma, a Delhi-based businessman, Ritesh Reddy, Rohit Reddy’s brother, Kaushik Ravi, an advocate from Bengaluru and Arjun Reddy.
Putta Mahesh Kumar initially tested negative in the urine screening, but later reportedly tested positive in a confirmatory blood test conducted as part of the investigation, according to Chevella DCP Yogesh Gautam.
During the raid, police recovered about two grams of cocaine from the farmhouse along with several bottles of foreign liquor. Officers also seized a German-made .32 revolver with ammunition from the premises.
Investigators said that one of the individuals present had allegedly fired a shot into the air during the police operation. The firearm reportedly belonged to Ritesh Reddy, who possessed a valid licence.
The case has been registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigators are also examining the possible source of the cocaine and the network through which it may have been procured.
Initial questioning of the arrested members suggested the drug might have been brought to the gathering by one of Rohit Reddy’s acquaintances after being purchased during a recent trip outside Telangana. Though police say the supply chain is still under investigation.
However, Mahesh Kumar was granted station bail the next day to participate in the Parliament session. The other could be produced before the magistrate.
The location of the raid has also attracted attention because in 2022, the same farmhouse had featured in Telangana’s high-profile MLA poaching controversy, when BRS leaders alleged attempts to lure their legislators. The incident quickly spilled into the political arena, with both Bharat Rashtra Samiti and Telugu Desam Party responding to the developments.
BRS leaders said the case should be investigated thoroughly, but cautioned against attempts to give the issue a political colour. Party functionaries pointed out that Rohit Reddy is a former MLA who no longer holds an elected position, and said the law should take its course based on evidence.
The TDP also responded after the name of its MP surfaced in the case. Party leaders said the allegations against Mahesh Kumar should not be treated as proven until the investigation is completed. They emphasised that Mahesh Kumar had initially tested negative in the urine test and called for a fair inquiry before drawing conclusions.
The Congress Telangana chief B. Mahesh Goud said they would not let any accused go scot-free since this is a senior matter. He said that there were doubts about BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao and invited him, along with other lawmakers, to have a test while he attends the Assembly session on March 16. Rama Rao said he would be ready to take the test; however, he warned against dragging his name into the dispute.
The case comes at a time when India is witnessing a steady rise in narcotics-related offences. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 1.18 lakh cases under the NDPS Act were registered across the country in 2022. Enforcement agencies have reported a significant increase in drug seizures in recent years, with thousands of kilograms of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs being intercepted annually.
Both BRS and TDP may not take action against their leaders, as they were seen downplaying the incident. While BRS wanted to wait until the investigation reached a substantive stage, the TDP appears to be portraying the incident as a private matter involving Mahesh Kumar, the son of Putta Sudhakar Yadav. Yadav is the party’s MLA from Mydukur and former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. For both parties, these are not small leaders, and they may risk losing their support by taking action.