In another case underlining the deep links between Tollywood and the drug mafia, the police arrested actor Abhishek Kumar and his associate with 10 grams of cocaine in the city.
Upon questioning, the 31-year-old actor is reported to have admitted to taking drugs in the company of other Telugu film personalities.
Abhishek and Golla Srinivasulu were arrested during a routine vehicle checking on Dharam Karam Road, Ameerpet around 1.30 a.m in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Police stopped their Skoda car and upon searching, found the drug in small pouches, which they had procured for an upcoming New Year’s eve bash with his friends. Cops also seized three cell phones.
According to the police, the duo had purchased the drug from one Michael, a Ugandan national, who operates from Goa.
According to DCP West Zone, G Sudheer Babu, Abhishek had contacted Michael for the drug and then went to get it from Goa on Nov 29.
He returned on Dec 2 and hid the drug at his residence in Tirumala Apartments at SR Nagar.
Srinivasulu, a private firm employee and resident of DNM Colony, Sanathnagar, had been employed by Abhishek to procure drugs two years ago. He also is a drug addict. The DCP said that upon questioning the duo, they confessed and admitted they were in the habit of using drugs in the company of some other Tollywood actors. Police are now on the look out for supply of drugs in these high profile circles, especially with the new year around the corner.
“We suspect there is a nexus between some persons in Tollywood and suppliers to transport the narcotic substance to the city from Goa and Mumbai for the New Year,” the DCP said.
“We have some leads on this and would set up special teams to probe the issue. We are also keeping an eye out for the transportation of drugs and will nab the key accused from Goa and Mumbai,” DCP Sudheer Babu added. Police named Vikram Malhotra, an event manager who was arrested in 2008, to be in league with Michael to supply drugs to Tollywood celebrities. They also revealed the name of one George Peter, a drug smuggler operating from Mumbai and Goa. Peter has been living in India since 2010 without a valid passport. They added that this time, Abhishek had bypassed Malhotra and bought the drugs directly from Michael.
Officials said pubs are where drug peddlers meet their customers and develop a rapport. The SR Nagar police have registered a case against the accused under section 21 (b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.