Even as the Telangana Prohibition and Excise department’s State Task Force (STF) began questioning Dutch national Mike Kamminga in connection to the drug racket busted in Hyderabad, his friends and family have began an online campaign claiming that he was innocent.
Taking to YouTube, several of his friends have uploaded short videos of themselves, talking about how long they knew Mike, and claiming that he was not a drug user or peddler.
Mike was arrested on July 26, with officials stating that he was found in possession of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine (MDMA), and DMT (Dimethyltryptamine).
Investigators had earlier said that Mike Kamminga's arrest was being considered a major breakthrough as he was reportedly supplying the drugs to peddlers from Europe.
Officials also said that he might be the link between the drug bust and its connection to techies in Hyderabad from several MNCs, who were consuming drugs.
However, his friends and family have denied the allegations.
"I know MIke for five years. I know him as a helpful and kind guy, who was always there when his friends needed help. he was always busy with his work and his company. During this period, I have never seen Mike abusing or dealing any drugs, and I can't imagine that he would something like this. The Mike I know, is definitely not a criminal," Menno from the Netherlands said.
"Last year, Mike stayed with us for a while. All he was talking about, was his little boy. His boy means the world to him. I can't imagine him being a drug smuggler or anything like that. He is so friendly, and he is one of the greatest guys I've ever met," Mandy Van Doorn, another one of Mike's friends said.
"He is currently in jail, without the chance of bail, and his in the process of being taken away from his wife and two children. In the process of this case, his personal life has been paraded in the media, including photos of his family and passport number. He has also lost his job, and as such his legal status in India. The Mike Kamminga that I know, is kind, generous and such accusations seem outrageous and hardly justifiable, with the little evidence that was produced by the police," said Lukas Engelhardt.
All the videos posted in support of Mike, can be found here.
Meanwhile, officials took custody of Mike for six days, following a court order. Investigators said that this was Kamminga's fourth visit to India
They also insisted that they had enough evidence against him, and his confession would reveal more details of the drug trade in Hyderabad.
In June, a sensational racket busted by authorities found that about 1,000 students of leading private schools and colleges in the city were using high-end drugs such as LSD and MDMA. Some of them, were as young as 13.
The racket also exposed the dark underbelly of Tollywood, as the dealers were also supplying drugs to several personalities from the Telugu industry.
Last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) finished its questioning of 12 famous Tollywood personalities including top actors like Ravi Teja, Charmme Kaur and leading director Puri Jagannadh.
Their names cropped up when the SIT found their contact details in the call data of Calvin Mascarenhas, the kingpin of the recently busted drug racket.
A total of 29 people have been arrested in the drug racket so far.
IANS inputs