Published Mar 15, 2026 | 10:08 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 15, 2026 | 5:43 PM
Putta Mahesh Yadav and Pilot Rohit Reddy.
Synopsis: A team of the EAGLE of the Telangana Police conducted a dramatic late-night raid at the farmhouse of former BRS MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy in Moinabad and recovered drugs. Ten individuals, including Putta Mahesh Yadav, TDP MP representing Eluru in Andhra Pradesh were present at the private gathering. Six people, including the MP, tested positive for drug consumption.
In what is turning out to be a major embarrassment for the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh, Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar Yadav was one among the six persons who tested positive for drugs during a raid of a narcotics party at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Hyderabad in Telangana on Saturday night, 13 March. Yadav has been granted station bail.
He was detained following a major anti-narcotics operation of a team of the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) of the Telangana Police at a late-night raid on Saturday, 14 March, at the farmhouse of former BRS MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy in Moinabad.
Yadav was later granted station bail in connection with the case. Police reportedly issued him notices and granted bail taking into account the ongoing Parliament session. Sources said he was discreetly moved out through a back route to avoid media attention.
Meanwhile, Rohith Reddy along with Ritesh Reddy and Namith Sharma are being produced before a magistrate in connection with the case.
Ironically, it was the TDP, which, after coming to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2024, famously announced that it had zero tolerance for drug abuse and launched a campaign “Say No To Drugs” to put the previous YSRCP on the dock for allegedly allowing widespread use of drugs under its rule between 2019-14.
According to EAGLE Superintendent of Police (SP) R Giridhar, the police received information around 7.30 pm about a party where drugs were allegedly being consumed at the farmhouse in Moinabad. Acting on the tip-off, EAGLE personnel, along with the Future City Special Operations Team (SOT), conducted a raid at the farmhouse later in the evening.
“As we were entering the premises, we heard gunshots. Initially, we thought someone was firing in the air to alert those attending the party. We saw one person firing into the air and immediately apprehended him,” Giridhar said.
During the search, officers recovered about two grams of cocaine along with traces of white powder suspected to be the same narcotic substance.
Upon the arrival of the EAGLE team, Delhi-based real estate businessman Namit Sharma fired one round from a gun, sources said. The gun, belonging to Ritesh Reddy, the younger brother of Rohit Reddy, has a valid license; however, it was Namit Sharma who fired it.
The first round of urine tests showed positive results for five persons: Rohit Reddy, Namit Sharma, Ritesh Reddy, Kaushik Ravi, and Arjun Reddy.
However, Giridhar said that according to Government Order (GO) No. 5 issued by the Telangana government, confirmation requires a blood test. Subsequent blood tests conducted at Erragadda Government Hospital confirmed that Mahesh Kumar Yadav had also consumed drugs.
Mahesh Yadavi is the son of a former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman.
Police said the party began at around 3 pm on Saturday, with attendees arriving one after another through the evening.
The police also suspect that the narcotics used at the party may have been brought from outside the state. “We found information suggesting the drugs were brought from Shimla, though we are verifying whether they actually came from Shimla or from Goa,” Giridhar said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Kaushik Ravi, said to be an advocate based in Bengaluru, may have brought the drugs. Police are now trying to establish how the individuals present at the party were connected to each other.
Among those present at the farmhouse party were: Rohit Reddy, Putta Mahesh Kumar Yadav, M Ramesh, V Shravan Kumar, Ritesh Reddy, Vijaya Krishna, Kaushik Ravi, Sarif Reddy, Arjun Reddy and Namit Sharma.
All those detained were subjected to mandatory medical testing, and further forensic examination is underway.
EAGLE sources said the team acted on credible intelligence that the farmhouse was being used for a private narcotics party involving influential figures.
Further investigation is in progress to trace the supply chain. The EAGLE team has registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused will be produced before a magistrate.
Police said Namit Sharma, who is reportedly a real estate businessman from Delhi, told investigators that he had travelled to Andhra Pradesh for Tirumala Venkateswara Temple darshan. However, officials said they were verifying his claims and the purpose of his visit.
The raid has sent ripples through political circles in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
It was at the same farmhouse of Rohit Reddy that the police arrested some people allegedly linked to the BJP for trying to lure BRS MLAs to switch loyalties and rock the then BRS government in 2022.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
