Friends of TRS involved in Telangana drug racket: Digvijaya

An illicit drug trade was busted in the city on July 2 and 13 people have been arrested in this connection.

"Huge Drug Scam in Telangana. Influential friends of TRS heir apparent involved. Let's see if they would be saved or prosecuted," senior Congress leader and the party's Telangana affairs in-charge Digvijaya Singh said in a tweet.

He said later told PTI on telephone, "It's now for them (TRS) to respond. They can say we are not protecting...good." 

Asked if he meant Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, when he referred to "heir apparent", Singh said, "It could be T Harish Rao (irrigation minister and nephew of the chief minister), it could be KTR (Rama Rao), it could be the daughter (of CM, K Kavitha and an MP) whoever is the heir apparent." 

KTR reacted strongly to the allegations and said Singh has "completely lost it" and asked him to "retire" from politics.

"You've completely lost it sir. Time to retire gracefully & do something worth your age. Glad that you've finally learnt to spell Telangana," he said in a tweet.

Asked if he thought the investigation into the drug racket is being handled properly, Singh said he has his doubts.

"That's why I have raised this question," he said.

Meanwhile, the Telangana BJP demanded that Singh come out with information he has about the drug racket and the people involved in it.

"Why is he (Singh) doing blackmail politics? If he actually has names and substantial evidence to prove KTR has links with those who are into drug peddling and who are drug abusers, the BJP demands the Congress leader to come out clean and establish that link," state BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said.

As many as 13 persons had been arrested in connection with selling drugs such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) in the city.

LSD, sold as tablets and liquid, is known to be one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals, while MDMA, commonly referred to as 'molly' or 'ecstasy', is a popular recreational or party drug.

The excise department last week issued notices under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, to 12 Tollywood personalities, including actors, directors and producers, asking them to appear before its Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The department had said it wants to quiz them on their alleged links, if any, with those arrested in the drug peddling racket.

Telugu film director Puri Jagannadh, of "Pokiri" fame, yesterday appeared before the department's SIT for questioning.