‘Kick’ film financier Venkat caught with drugs at Madhapur party

Hyderabad: Film financier Venkataratna Reddy (Venkat) and two others were arrested by the Telangana State Narcotics Bureau (TSNAB) during a raid at a rave party in Hyderabad.

The party was organised at the Fresh Living Apartment under Madhapur Police Station limits on Wednesday night.

The main accused and kingpin of the operation Venkat financed movies like Damarukam, Kick, Businessman, Lovely and Auto Nagar Surya. He brought the drugs to the city from Goa to organise parties here. Venkat had contacts with drug peddlers and the police also found WhatsApp chats about the parties and the usage of drugs in them.

On Thursday, sleuths of TSNAB along with Gudimalkapur police, based on credible information, apprehended three persons: B Balaji, a drug peddler; K Venkataratna Reddy, the party organiser and D Murali. The seized narcotics include cocaine, LSD, ecstasy pills and ganja, cars and Rs 72,500 in cash from them. The total worth of the seized items is said to be Rs 32.89 lakhs.

Balaji moved drugs from Bangalore to Hyderabad

Balaji is a native of Nellore district and is ex-Navy. He was declared medically unfit for service after an eye injury. He regularly used to come to Hyderabad to celebrate parties with his friends at the Fresh Living Apartments in Madhapur, Cyberabad.

In this process, he came in contact with drug peddlers in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Later, he started organising drug parties for his friends and other persons in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. Gradually, he established direct links/contacts with Nigerians to procure drugs from Bangalore to Hyderabad. He would also start selling drugs to needy customers in Hyderabad and also to important persons in the film industry for easy money.

He was purchasing drugs from four persons, including three Nigerian nationals, who were residing in Bangalore, Karnataka.

The police named Venkat the kingpin of the operation, who was addicted to drugs and is known for organising drug parties for his friends. He funded Balaji drug consignments in bulk quantity to organise parties. He would also arrange sex workers at these parties.

The police arrested Balaji and others with drugs from Flat No 804, Fresh Living Apartments in Vittal Rao Nagar at Madhapur, Cyberabad. However, four drug suppliers including the three Nigerians and around 18 drug buyers are still at large. Two women were also found in the apartment, who said they came to the party on the invitation of Venkat who promised them to get roles in movies.

Police advisory

In recent times, several youths/students have gotten addicted to drugs and committed crimes or are involved in other anti-social activities. Several families have become victims of this menace.

TSNAB, Hyderabad, requests the youths and students not to fall prey to drugs and requests the parents to keep a watch on the activities of their children.

Please feel free to approach the police directly or pass information to the police on phone no 8712671111 to curtail such anti-social activities and strive for a drug-free Hyderabad.