Telangana police form SIT in Moinabad drug case
HYDERABAD: Telangana Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Moinabad drug party case that has triggered widespread attention in the Telugu states.
Director General of Police (DGP) issued orders on Tuesday, directing the SIT to investigate the case under the supervision of Future City Commissioner Sudhir Babu. The SIT has been asked to complete the probe and file a chargesheet within three months.
The case relates to a party held at a farmhouse owned by former BRS MLA Rohith Reddy, where 11 persons, including Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar, were present. As the attendees are from different regions, police suspect wider links and possible repeated drug parties at the location.
Questions over firearms and firing at police
The case gained prominence after a firing incident during the raid. Police said Namit Sharma, a participant from Rajasthan, opened fire when alerted. Even after officers identified themselves, Rohith Reddy allegedly provoked him, saying, “Shoot first, I will handle it,” according to the remand report.
Police are examining why firearms were carried to the party and whether any other activity, including settlements or anticipated threats, was under discussion at the farmhouse.
SIT composition and scope of probe
The SIT includes Chevella Deputy Commissioner of Police Yogesh Gautam, Greyhounds Group Commander M. Ravindra Reddy, Shadnagar Deputy Commissioner of Police C.H. Sireesha, and EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement) DSPs, among others. Local inspectors and sub-inspectors from Moinabad, Mokila and Shamshabad Rural police stations are also part of the team.
Links to past controversies examined
Investigators are also likely to revisit allegations linked to the death of Kedarnath Shetty alias Kedarnath in Dubai in February last year. Rohith Reddy’s name had surfaced in that case, though no formal complaint was filed by the family.
Police sources said Kedarnath had earlier been caught in a cyberabad police raid involving drug use at a hotel in 2024.
Accused refuse de-addiction option
In the current case, six persons tested positive for drugs. Among them, MP Putta Mahesh Kumar, Tiruveedhula Arjun Reddy and Kaushik Ravi reportedly refused to attend de-addiction centres, opting instead to contest the case legally.
Police said the Telangana EAGLE unit usually offers counselling and de-addiction options, with provisions to drop cases as per rules if individuals comply. However, the accused denied drug use and declined the option.
Police had monitored farmhouse for months
Police sources said allegations of frequent parties and drug use at the farmhouse had surfaced earlier, but no action was taken at the time. After the recent political changes and Rohith Reddy’s electoral defeat, surveillance intensified, leading to the raid last Saturday.
