The nexus between the Telugu film industry and the drug mafia has been revealed with the Hyderabad police arresting two brothers of popular actor Ravi Teja, along with two others.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan said that Naga Babu and Bharat Raju, both brothers of Ravi Teja, along with their friend Naresh and an Ugandan national Cheema were arrested near a hotel in Jubilee Hills on Thursday night while they were buying drugs from the foreigner. The police seized 50 gms of cocaine from their possession and also seized the car of Ravi Teja, in which his brothers were traveling.
Significantly, Khan revealed that the police had in its possession a list of 60 important personalities who were involved with drugs and they would be arrested soon. Khan confirmed that the list included the names of some heroines, but refused to reveal them.
All the accused were produced in a criminal court on Friday and were remanded to judicial custody.
According to police sources, the police may question an actor who was away in north India on a shooting assignment.
The commissioner said that an anti drug cell was also being formed to counter the increasing influence of the drug mafia.
"It is the responsibility of the parents of young children, especially girls, to keep a close eye on their ward, as drug use is increasing", he said.
Though the police have arrested many drug peddlers in the city in the past, this is the first time that such high-profile drug users have been arrested. Earlier, the police had arrested a prominent Telugu film producer for buying drugs.
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