On the night of March 14, the elite EAGLE team of Telangana Police descended on a sprawling farmhouse in Moinabad, Rangareddy district, owned by former BRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy. Acting on a tip-off about a clandestine drug party, officers stormed the premises around 10 pm. What they uncovered shocked the nation: 11 high-profile guests—politicians, businessmen, and associates—amid hookah pots, liquor bottles and a swimming pool area littered with evidence of indulgence. About two grams of a white substance, suspected to be cocaine and methamphetamine, were seized. A .32 revolver belonging to Rohith’s brother Rithesh Reddy Pajugula was recovered; one guest, Delhi businessman Namith Sharma, allegedly fired three to four rounds at the raiding team. “Fortunately, nobody was hurt,” a senior police officer told reporters, adding that several guests “behaved rudely” with officers.
Initial urine tests on the spot flagged five positives for cocaine. Blood samples taken the next day at a government hospital confirmed six positives overall. Pilot Rohith Reddy and four others tested positive for cocaine; TDP’s Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar, who cleared the urine test initially, tested positive for methamphetamine. EAGLE SP R. Girdhar confirmed, “A blood test conducted on the TDP’s Eluru MP on Sunday confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.”
Moinabad DCP Yogesh Gautham detailed the charges: All 11 were booked under the Prohibition and Excise Act. Rohith Reddy, Rithesh Reddy, and Namith Sharma face NDPS Act and Arms Act violations, and Namith is additionally under BNS Sections 109 (attempt to murder) and 131. Three, including Rohith, were sent to judicial remand, the MP and others secured station bail.
The fallout has rocked two major parties. TDP, under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, moved swiftly. State president Palla Srinivasa Rao issued a show-cause notice to Putta Mahesh Kumar, demanding a written explanation within 48 hours. “The party leadership had taken serious note of the reports… any development capable of undermining the party’s public credibility could not be treated lightly,” Rao stated. As an interim measure, the MP was barred from all party activities. “The Telugu Desam Party maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities, including those related to narcotics,” he added. “The party’s standing in public life cannot be compromised by the personal lapses or vulnerabilities of individuals.”
In a video statement, the embattled MP tried to assuage the situation: “I have never committed any mistake. I will not commit any mistake. I will come out clean on the issue.” He insisted he had only attended a dinner invited by friends. “The allegations are baseless… part of a social media campaign. I am ready to face any inquiry.”
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao was infuriated. In his post on X, he condemned the drug use by his party leader. “Drugs create monsters out of human beings. It is unfortunate that even people in responsible positions are resorting to drug usage. I personally am strictly against drugs and usage of illicit substances. My party BRS condemns usage of drugs and any illegal activities. Anyone using and peddling drugs should be strictly punished as per the law, irrespective of their political affiliation.”
Reacting to the Congress challenging him to take a drug test, KTR declared, “I am willing to undergo a drug test at any time… I welcome Mahesh [Goud]’s challenge.” He warned of legal notices against those “dragging” his name: “Using the drug case to settle scores with BRS is a reflection of your disgusting politics.”
As forensic reports on the seized drugs are awaited, and political blame games intensify, the opposition, YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh and the ruling Congress in Telangana, mounted political attacks on the TDP and the BRS. Congress Telangana PCC chief B. Mahesh Goud blamed the KTR and associates for the spread of “drug culture” in the state and called for all the lawmakers to undergo drug tests to inspire the youth. The YSRCP called the ruling party “Telugu Drugs Party”. The opposition has also questioned the credibility of the state government’s campaign “Say No To Drugs Bro” and demanded Mahesh Kumar’s immediate resignation from the Lok Sabha and his expulsion from the party.
Due to increasing drug usage in both the Telugu states, the parties have responded with seriousness. While the TDP responded formally with a show-cause notice, the BRS has yet to take any formal action. In a press interaction, BRS MLC Sravan Dasoju said whoever is found involved must face strict action under the law, keeping the party position open for possible action.
Local media reported that the party had been facing a lot of public pressure over the drugs case. However, the BRS leadership hasn’t announced any formal action yet.
