By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: Ace Tollywood director Puri Jagannadh, who is being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for his alleged links to drugs peddlers, arrived at Abkari Bhawan today morning for interrogation amidst tight security.
He was accompanied by his son Akash and brother Sairam Shanker.
Today would mark the beginning of questioning sessions wherein film personalities will be grilled by Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to know their level of involvement in the drug racket.
It was said that the filmmaker may not turn up on the first day of the interogation and might seek another date. However, he reached the department head quarters at 10 am today. The interogation is led by SIT chief S Srinivas Rao.
Based on preliminary questioning and cross-examination of statements made by each of them, SIT sleuths would decide on the need for further.
As many as 12 Tollywood personalities were issued notices earlier this month after their names appeared in the contact lists of arrested drug peddlers Calvin Mascarenhas, Zeeshan Ali and others.
The SIT sleuths are scheduled to interrogate actresses Charmee Kaur and Mumaith Khan on July 20 and 21 respectively.
However, actress Mumaith Khan who claimed not to have received the notice is unlikely to be questioned on July 21. Mumaith is currently working for a Telugu TV reality show in Maharastra's Lonavla. Officials here have asked the producers of the show to handover the summons to Mumaith. However, it is not clear whether the officials would travel to the reality show's sets to question her.
Actor Subba Raju, cinematographer Syam K Naidu, actor Ravi Teja, art director Chinna, actor Navdeep, actor Tarun are scheduled to be questioned on July 22,23,24,25,26 and 27 respectively. Actors Nandoo and Tanish would be interrogated on July 28.
The list was made based on the confession of an alleged kingpin Calvin Mascarenhas. Excise (enforcement) director Akun Sabharwal, heading the probe said the celebrities would be asked to explain their links with the arrested drug peddlers and why the peddlers frequently contacted them.
More than 15 Tollywood personalities, including some bigwigs are likely to be served notices in connection with the investigation.
