Drug scandal rocks Tollywood; `Kick’ financer Venkataratna Reddy, director Anugu Reddy among many held

Hyderabad: Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TS NAB) has busted a high-profile drug racket in Tollywood and arrested eight persons including film financier K. Venkataratna Reddy, director Anugu Sushanth Reddy and former Mahbubnagar MP’s son Devarakonda Suresh Rao.

Three Nigerians have also been arrested.

The arrest has blown the lid off the web of connections involving Tollywood celebrities, Nigerian nationals, and a thriving drug trade.

After specific inputs, TS NAB arrested financier K. Venkataratna Reddy and another individual, Kapa Bhaskar Balaji, Based on their information, police arrested three Nigerians, Amobi Chukwudi Muonagolu, Igbawre Micheal, and Thomas Anagha.

Police also arrested Devarakonda Suresh Rao, son of former Mahbubnagar MP Vithal Rao; film director Anugu Sushanth Reddy; and Ramchand, who has close ties to the film industry.

Police confiscated 8 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of MDMA, Ecstasy pills, cars, and cell phones with an estimated value of Rs. 10 lakhs. The bank account of Venkataratna Reddy, holding Rs. 5.5 crore, was also frozen as part of the investigation.

Director of TS NAB, CV Anand said prominent figures from the film industry including Shadow film producer Ravi Uppalapati, were among those absconding. Additionally, Surya, the owner of Snort Pub, and three other Nigerians believed to be masterminds behind the drug trafficking operation were also on the run.

Amobi Chukwudi Muonagolu, a 29-year-old Nigerian and member of the Yelahanka Football Club in Bangalore, as well as a member of the All India Nigerians Student Community, was identified as a key player.

Igbawre Micheal (32) and Thomas Anagha Kalu (49) from Nigeria were found to be involved in the sale of narcotics to individuals in Bangalore and Hyderabad, alongside Ramkishore, a drug smuggler hailing from Visakhapatnam and presently residing in Warangal.

Kapa Bhaskar Balaji (34) from Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh was introduced to the Nigerian group by Ramkishore. Balaji's involvement took a more sinister turn as he began sourcing drugs from Bangalore and organizing parties in the Madhapur area attended by Tollywood celebrities. These parties served as a backdrop for the distribution of narcotics.

Venkataratna Reddy, a 42-year-old from Nehrunagar, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, who had previously financed films like Kick, Businessman, Dhamarukam, Lovely, and Autonagar Surya, is a client of Balaji. Reddy was procuring drugs from Balaji for the parties he hosted. Balaji would covertly facilitate drug transactions by using a Snapchat account in the name of `Godshead'.

A series of arrests began on August 31. Balaji was apprehended in an apartment in Gudimalkapur, while Venkataratna Reddy was caught while organizing a rave party at Fresh Living Apartment in Madhapur.

Murali, a central government employee, was also among those arrested. Based on the data obtained from their mobile phones, Amobi, Michael, Thomas, Devarakonda Suresh Rao, Kolli Ramchand, Kurapati Sandeep, Anugu Sushanth Reddy, and Krishna Praneeth were taken into custody.

Four grams of drugs were seized from Suresh Rao. The investigation also uncovered that an actor had been obtaining drugs through Kolli Ramchand.

Police have identified 13 individuals who had purchased drugs from Balaji but are currently absconding. Director of TS NAB, CV Anand, said the actor, Shadow film producer Ravi Uppalapati, Surya (the owner of Snort Pub in Gachibowli), Arjun (the owner of Bistro Terra Cafe in Banjara Hills), Visakhapatnam resident Kalahar Reddy, and others are among those who are currently on the run.

He said these individuals are believed to have been involved in the procurement and distribution of drugs, as well as the organization of parties.

The arrests and revelations shed light on a deeper and darker side of the entertainment world, one that extends beyond the silver screen, casting a long shadow over Tollywood's glamorous facade.