HYDERABAD: Most of the Tollywood celebrities, who have so far been grilled by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for alleged use of drugs, are learnt to have searched for aloe vera grass or juice.
A senior official, who is overseeing the probe into the drugs case, disclosed that film personalities had cleansed their stomach with aloe vera juice and chewed the aloe vera grass before facing the department’s interrogation session.
“Aloe vera, which is frequently used by sportspersons and others for passing the drug test, is much in demand in the city following the busting of the drug racket involving Tollywood celebrities. Most of the film personalities have also used expensive aloe-vera-based hair shampoos for cleaning their hair before coming to our office,” a top official, who grilled the film personalities, said.
As an “antidote”, excise officials are now making enquiries with manufacturers or suppliers in Delhi for procuring “anti doping equipment”, which is normally used for sportspersons. “We have consulted the Delhi traders for buying the anti-doping equipment as drug suspects are trying to hoodwink us by taking aloe vera before interrogation,” the official disclosed.
However, a senior general physician working with a corporate hospital said that there is no scientific evidence which states that aloe vera juice flushes out drugs in the body. The officials further pointed out that those who were found positive for drugs would be sent to de-addiction centres. “The excise department has no set-up or funds for de-addiction centres. It is the duty of health department. We will ask health officials to set up a de-addiction centre at Osmania General Hospital,” the officials said.
Sources said that veteran actress Gautami has been running a de-addiction centre in the city and the government will take her help.
On the issue of actress Charmme Kaur knocking the HC doors, official sources pointed out that they were only questioning the film personalities for getting information. “They are not accused in the case. Charmme has taken a hasty decision,” an official commented.
SIT notices to another 27
Official sources said they had issued notices to another 27 persons in various sectors including IT sector. “There is no truth that we have targeted the film industry alone,” they said.