BRS Working President KT Rama deemed the raid a ‘vindictive act’ to make up for the government's poor responses to 'real' issues.
Published Oct 27, 2024 | 10:38 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2024 | 10:38 PM
A BRS-Police standoff took shape as tensions escalated following the raid of Raj Pakala's residence in Janwada on 26 October
A raid on the residence of Raj Pakala, BRS working president KTR’s brother-in-law, resulted in high tensions in Hyderabad on 27 October. The standoff between members of the BRS and the police resulted in many MLAs, MLCs, and leaders of the opposition party being detained.
The police raid of Pakala’s residence in Janwada, led to the seizure of gambling kits and alcohol, with the police administering drug tests to the 21 male attendees. Finding that Pakala possessed excessive liquor without the necessary excise permits and a positive case of cocaine use, the police have booked the businessman under the NDPS among other laws.
Following the raid on 26 October, Quthballapur MLA and BRS leader KP Vivekanand claimed that the event was mischaracterised as a ‘rave’. He said it was a family Deepavali celebration. Speaking to the press, he stated that KTR and his wife were not present at the party.
“They (the government) is scheming on how to defame the BRS and KTR all day,” Vivekanand alleged, calling this animosity a result of a ‘KTR phobia.’ He further alleged that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was slowly turning government officials into his puppets.
Subsequently, tensions resulted in a standoff between the police and BRS leaders outside KTR’s residence. The growing tensions resulted in the detainment of Korutla MLA Kalvakuntla Sanjay, who was seen trying to reason with the police earlier. Furthermore, the police took custody of Vivekanand and former Chennur MLA Balka Suman all outside KTR’s residence.
#Telangana: The police have taken custody of #Quthballapur constituency MLA @kp_vivekanand and former #Chennur MLA @balkasumantrs at @BRSParty working president @KTRBRS‘s residence.
On the night of 26 October, the police raided a farmhouse belonging to Raj Pakala, KTR’s… pic.twitter.com/Cqr4BKqyEJ
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 27, 2024
As BRS supporters flocked in front of the cars carrying the leaders, the police resorted to force to clear the route. Further, the police also took custody of BRS social media convenor Manne Krishank who was speaking to the press in front of KTR’s residence. “What are you trying to plant by sending away all the party members? he questioned the police as he was being detained.
The police detained the leaders at Gachibowli Police Station following the slew of arrests.
The police detained BRS MLAs, MLCs, and leaders at the Gachibowli Police Station following a standoff in front of KTR’s residence
Meanwhile, the Mokila Police Station in Cyberabad district registered an FIR against Raj Pakala, naming him as the first accused individual in the case. Vijay Madduri, the individual who tested positive for cocaine was named as the second accused.
It detailed that the Narisingi police had raided Pakala’s residence at about 10:30 pm, along with a Special Operations Team (SOT) and excise officials, to find people drinking alcohol. It further stated that the police apprehended those drinking when they tried to flee upon seeing the police. Soon after, the police administered a drug test in which Vijay Madduri flagged positive for cocaine. The FIR explained that Vijay was the CEO of ETG, a software company which Pakala owns and that the duo were friends for about five years.
Following further interrogation, Vijay purportedly revealed that he and Pakala would party on the weekends occasionally, consuming drugs and gamble. The FIR said that the women at the residence did not cooperate with the drug test.
The FIR specifies that police seized three aluminium briefcases with playing cards and poker chips, while the excise officials seized the alcohol at the location. Subsequently, the police have charged Raj Pakala and Vijay Madduri under:
“We have received information that the main people that supplied the drugs were also at the party. The BJP demands that there is a serious investigation into this. The CCTV footage must be obtained and the passports of everyone involved must be seized,” Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay said.
The Congress was also quick to respond with similar criticism, with MLC Balmoori Venkat stating: “Our Chief Minister Revanth Reddy wants to make the state drug-free. Some big leaders are taking drugs and attending those parties.”
“To all those calling it a rave party at a farmhouse involving men and women, it was my brother-in-law’s house where a family gathering took place. It’s diabolical to try and imply something inappropriate by labelling couples as men and women,” KTR stated, speaking to the press.
“My mother-in-law was in attendance, as were little kids. My brother-in-law tested negative for drugs, only one person did. This whole ordeal is a witch hunt,” he continued. “That excise officials stated that they found no drugs at the residence, yet, they are charging us under Sections 25, 27, and 29 of the NDPS,” he lamented.
The three sections of the NDPS mentioned in the FIR relate to hosting drug use (Section 25), drug consumption (Section 27), and abetting drug use (Section 29).
Calling it a vindictive act to make up for the government’s poor responses to ‘real’ issues, KTR reiterated that the BRS will continue to expose the government’s wrongdoing no matter the cost.
Live: BRS Working President @KTRBRS addressing the Media at Nandi nagar residence.
https://t.co/mq4HQfpP5r— BRS Party (@BRSparty) October 27, 2024
The police are still investigating the matter.
(Edited by SF Desk)
