Can Telangana's Excise department investigate Hyderabad drug racket? HC asks state govt

As the racket spans several states, and countries, the HC asked if the state department was right for the job.
Can Telangana's Excise department investigate Hyderabad drug racket? HC asks state govt
Can Telangana's Excise department investigate Hyderabad drug racket? HC asks state govt
Written by:

The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday asked the Telangana government if the ongoing investigation into the recently busted drug racket, being conducted by the state's Prohibition and Excise department, was legal.

The HC asked the state if the Excise department was the right authority to investigate the case, as the drug racket spanned several states, and countries. 

TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy had moved the court, asking for the Telangana government to hand the case over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Narcotics Control Bureau or Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which have the required authorisation, to probe such crimes.

"Here is a case where certain individuals are found to be in possession of banned drugs and are suspected users. The question is who should investigate such offences? If the law does not permit the state to deal with such issues, then this court will junk its orders... but the question is who should investigate such offences? Inform us by next week," the court was quoted as saying.

Informing the court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had stated that there were transactions across the border, the petitioner's counsel argued that the state department only had the power to take preventive measures, catch offenders and hand them over to the investigation agencies.

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 Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine (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 people in the Telugu industry.

Investigators are presently looking into the role of Dutch national Mike Kamminga, who was arrested on July 26 from his house in Hyderabad, with officials stating that he was found in possession of 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.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com