After the film industry, the Telangana excise department has turned its attention to IT companies and private education institutions, the names of employees and students of which figured in the drugs case.
The department has served notice on 13 IT companies and 25 schools and an equal number of colleges which figured in the list. “We will call them for questioning once the officials gather sufficient proof,” Excise Minister T. Padma Rao Goud said.
‘Tollywood not targeted’
He refuted the claims of a section of the film industry that the government was targeting Tollywood alone and sparing others. “The government is helping the film industry, not targeting it. The ongoing investigation is being done on the basis of the proof gathered by the department,” he said.
The Minister said a delegation of the film industry called on him on Thursday morning with a request to participate in the run being organised against drug supply and consumption on July 30. The industry reportedly supported the government’s move to punish the violators, but spare the innocents.
The Minister asserted that the government was firm on rooting out the menace from the city. If necessary, it would consider setting up an exclusive wing to tackle the issue.
The special task force of the excise department was keeping tab on the movement of drugs, he said.
On whether the government was looking at suppliers or the probe was confined to those consuming drugs, he said: “There are instances where consumers turned suppliers. The department is looking into all aspects of the case.” It was also time for parents to keep a watch on their children to ensure that they did not come under the influence of drugs, he said.
The Minister said the department would organise Excise Plantation Day on Friday as part of the ongoing Haritha Haaram. It was planned to plant 25 lakh saplings of palm (toddy) trees during the day in different locations across the State. The government has decided to entrust the responsibility of protecting these saplings to the 8,000-plus toddy tappers’ societies. The government has received representations for watering these plants through drip and the Collectors/MLAs in the respective areas could consider allocating funds for this end.
