Tollywood actor Naga Babu’s daughter, actor Niharika Konidela and singer Rahul Sipligunj were among 144 people arrested by police for partying beyond the stipulated hours at a Hyderabad pub.
The pub at the Radisson Blu Hotel in posh Banjara Hills was raided around 3am by members of the Hyderabad City Police Task Force, who also found cocaine and other prohibited substances on the premises.
Party-goers also include the daughter of a former Director General of Andhra Pradesh Police and a son of a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP, as well as children of some other well-known figures.
When the police found some packets of cocaine and after the raid some of the revelers threw away the packets, the police took those present in the pub to the nearby Banjara Hills police station and interrogated them.
Ironically, the singer and winner of reality show Big Boss Telugu, Rahul Sipligunj, who was among those arrested, was part of the drug-free Hyderabad campaign launched by the police. As part of the campaign, he sang a song.
Meanwhile, Naga Babu issued a video statement clarifying that although her daughter Niharika was there, she had done nothing wrong. He said police made it clear they were not at fault. “Our conscience is clear,” said Naga Babu, superstar Chiranjeevi’s brother.
Naga Babu appealed to social media and mainstream media not to spread “undesirable speculation” about Niharika.
Those arrested include 33 women and some pub staff who broke the rules by allowing the party to continue beyond permitted hours. The pub was reportedly notorious for supplying illicit substances and also served alcohol to outsiders, although it was only licensed to serve hotel guests.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand, taking these violations and the failure of the affected police station seriously, suspended the police officer from Banjara Hills Police Station and issued an indictment to Banjara Hills Deputy Police Commissioner M. Sudarshan.
They were prosecuted for neglecting their legitimate duties in controlling narcotics in pubs and bars.
The raid comes amid increased police action against the drug threat. The recent death of an engineering graduate from a drug overdose and the involvement of some educated youth and techies in drug trafficking and use has alarmed authorities.
Police and the newly formed Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) not only crack down on peddlers, but also open cases against those who used the drugs.
New app warning: All OTT apps and release dates under one app