The Telangana State Bureau Against Drug Trafficking (TSBADT) has formally requested the presence of Tollywood actor Navdeep in connection with a narcotics-related investigation.
On Thursday, the TSBADT issued a notice in accordance with Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code, instructing Navdeep to report to their offices by September 23. It is anticipated that he will be interrogated about his supposed connections to drug dealers.
Following an appeal by Navdeep, the Telangana High Court issued an order on Wednesday prohibiting any forceful actions by the police against the actor. However, the court clarified that law enforcement is authorized to interrogate him.
In response to the police’s public declaration that he was actively avoiding apprehension, Navdeep filed for pre-emptive bail. This case was initiated by the Gudimalkapur police after they detained three individuals from Nigeria for drug trafficking.
The actor’s name came into the picture when details emerged from other suspects, specifically Tollywood financier Venkataramna Reddy and former naval officer B. Balaji, who were apprehended in a separate incident.
During a media briefing on September 14, Hyderabad Police Commissioner and TSBADT Director C.V. Anand disclosed that eight people, inclusive of a former MP’s son and a movie director, were detained. Authorities also confiscated 50 grams of MDMA, 24 ecstasy tablets, and eight grams of cocaine. Additionally, Navdeep and film producer Ravi Uppalapati were identified as individuals evading law enforcement. However, Navdeep later used social media platform X to reject any allegations against him.
Among those arrested were Devarakonda Suresh Rao, the offspring of former MP D. Vittal Rao, film director Anugu Sushanth Reddy, and Nigerian nationals Amobi Chukwudi Muonagolu, Igbawre Micheal, and Thomas Anaga Kalu.
Previously, Navdeep had been one of the Tollywood figures interrogated in 2017 by the Telangana Prohibition of Excise department’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) over a high-profile drug ring. The Enforcement Directorate also questioned him and other industry figures in 2021 concerning the same issue, but they were all exonerated by the SIT.
Also watch: Tollywood Latest News Including Trailers