Telangana officials debunk Maharashtra’s Rs 12,000-cr drug bust claim in Cherlapally raid
The raid was carried out after Maharashtra Crime Branch received inputs about illegal drug manufacturing linked to networks operating across state borders
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: A major raid on Vagdevi Chemical Factory at Cherlapally has led to a sharp disagreement between Maharashtra and Telangana authorities over the valuation of the drugs seized.
Maharashtra Crime Branch announced it had busted a Rs 12,000-crore drug racket, but Telangana police and excise officials insist the actual figure is just about Rs 12 crore.
Background of the case
The raid was carried out earlier this month after Maharashtra Crime Branch received intelligence inputs about large-scale illegal drug manufacturing linked to networks operating across state borders.
Acting on the tip-off, a team reached Hyderabad and, with local support, stormed the Vagdevi Chemical Factory in Cherlapally. Inside the premises, police discovered a huge cache of substances suspected to be used in the production of synthetic drugs.
The operation attracted nationwide attention after Maharashtra authorities declared the seizure to be worth an unprecedented Rs 12,000 crore.
‘Seized stock valued at Rs 12 crore, not Rs 12,000 crore’
However, Telangana police, after verification, pegged the actual value much lower.
The inventory seized from the factory includes: 5,790 kg of drugs worth Rs 11.58 crore, 35,500 litres of chemicals valued at Rs 29.94 lakh, mobile phones worth Rs 1.50 lakh, and other materials worth Rs 4.57 lakh.
Even when combined, officials said, the haul does not exceed Rs 12 crore.
‘No evidence of Mephedrone raw materials’
Excise officials also clarified that no raw materials used in the manufacture of mephedrone were found. Though several chemicals were recovered, none matched the crucial precursors needed for synthetic drug production.
Maharashtra’s stand under scrutiny
While Telangana officers praised Maharashtra Crime Branch for uncovering the illegal factory and bringing the operation to light, they questioned the inflated valuation.
They pointed out that in its own report to the court, Maharashtra police pegged the drug value at Rs 11.58 crore, which contradicts their public claim of Rs 12,000 crore.
