Hyderabad drug bust: Week-long interrogation begins, police track bigger network

The Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police from Maharashtra have been granted custody of the owner of Vagdevi Laboratories Private Limited, Srinivas Vijay Voleti, and the company’s chemical analyst, Tanaji, for questioning. They will be questioned about the illegal manufacture of mephedrone at their industrial unit in Cherlapalli from September 8 to September 15, sources close to the investigation said.

A large haul of mephedrone, precursor chemicals and raw materials seized from the site is being transported to Mumbai for forensic analysis, samples of which will be produced before court.

“The value of the seized lot is yet to be estimated,” the officer said.

The probe also revealed that Voleti had two-three firms in his name, including Vagdevi Innoscience Private Limited in Nacharam, which was also searched.

“Employees were found at work there, but no incriminating material was discovered. For the Cherlapalli branch, however, Voleti was unable to produce any authorisations, Pollution Control Board certificates, bills, or logs for the stockpiled materials,” the officer said, adding that Mr. Voleti was reportedly not cooperating with questioning.

The Maharashtra Police team informed authorities in Telangana that other firms may be engaged in similar activities, prompting further probes in Hyderabad.

The large quantity of raw materials stored inside Vagdevi Laboratories Pvt Ltd unit in Cherlapalli.

The racket came to light with the arrest of Fatima Murad Shaikh, alias Molla, 23, a Bangladeshi national from Mira Road, on August 8.

Following her confession that her supply originated in Telangana, a team of 15 officers arrived in Hyderabad in late August. After keeping Voleti and his residence under surveillance, the unit raided the Cherlapalli facility on September 5.

Inside, police uncovered nearly 5.8 kg of mephedrone, worth approximately ₹9 crore, 35,500 litres of chemicals, 950 kg of powder, and equipment used in the production of the synthetic drug. The scale of operations suggested an industrial-level set-up capable of flooding the market with the narcotic.

So far, 12 people linked to the racket have been arrested, and seizures have included 27 mobile phones, four vehicles, electronic weighing machines, and other manufacturing equipment.

Meanwhile, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, issued a statement that Vagdevi Laboratories is a chemical factory and not a licensed pharmaceutical company. Mephedrone is not a medicine and does not come under its regulation, the DCA said.