Film-maker Puri grilled in drug case

He was questioned for over 9 hours

Film director Puri Jagannadh and his son coming out of the office of the Special Investigation Team in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, on Wednesday evening.

The Special Investigation Team set up by the Excise Department to probe the drugs racket, in which some Tollywood personalities are allegedly involved, questioned Telugu film-maker Puri Jagannadh on Wednesday.

The director’s name cropped up when excise officials analysed contacts and WhatsApp chats of Calvin Mascarenhas, the drug peddler who was nabbed earlier this month, reportedly along with the names of other celebrities and school students. The SIT intends to probe the contacts of the peddlers to establish, among other things, the nature of the connection between them  and their contacts.

According to initial reports, which are yet to be confirmed, SIT investigators presented the director with information suggesting an acquaintance between him and Mascarenhas. It was also learnt that two government doctors were summoned, supposedly to collect blood samples from the director.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Jagannadh arrived at the office of the Excise and Prohibition Department here with his son, brother and advocate. Only the director was allowed into the investigation room.

Grilled for 9 hours

The grilling went on for more than nine hours, with the investigators preferring not to let the director out for a break.

Mr. Jagannadh denied that he was acquainted with Mascarenhas. “I told the SIT officials that I do not know Calvin and I have never met him. Anything illegal, not only drugs, I have not done and will not do,” the film-maker said in a video he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Akun Sabharwal, Director, Excise and Prohibition, who is overseeing the probe, launched an awareness campaign  against drug use in schools.