HYDERABAD: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the recent Moinabad farmhouse drug bust said that Namit Sharma, who opened fire at the police during the raid, is a Delhi-based businessman and a friend of TDP MP P Mahesh Kumar—one of the accused in the case. The SIT also stated that Sharma fired a .32 calibre revolver allegedly at the provocation of former Tandur MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy and his brother, Ritesh Reddy.Investigators said the probe is still on to ascertain his connection with the ex-MLA and the circumstances that led to the firing.
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Acting on a tip-off about a party involving drugs, sleuths of EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement), along with the Future City police, raided Rohith Reddy’s farmhouse on the night of March 14 and arrested 11 people. Six of them tested positive for drug abuse — four for cocaine, one for amphetamine and methamphetamine (suspected to be MDMA). Sharma is suspected to have consumed both MDMA and cocaine.According to the remand report submitted in a local court in Chevella, Moinabad sub-inspector (SI) Md Nayeemuddin, upon reaching the farmhouse, informed the group that he had a search warrant.“When he said this, two of the accused—Rohith and Ritesh—instructed/abetted Sharma to open fire at the police. They told him to shoot if anything happened and assured him they would take care of the consequences. Acting on their instructions, Sharma fired one round from the revolver. Fortunately, the police team escaped unharmed. The SI and his team immediately apprehended Sharma and seized the revolver,” the remand report stated.According to SIT sleuths, Sharma resides in Civil Lines in New Delhi and is involved in the construction business. He had reached the farmhouse that night with Mahesh Kumar, a close friend of Rohith Reddy.“The cocaine was brought by another accused, Koushik Ravi, also a friend of Rohith. He had purchased it a few days earlier from an unknown person in Shimla while there for a business meeting. Sharma, Rohith, Ritesh, Koushik and Arjun Reddy consumed cocaine mixed with alcohol,” the report stated.It further noted that, as per drug screening tests conducted at the Institute of Mental Health in Erragadda on all 11 accused, “Sharma tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine (indicating use of MDMA) and cocaine.” As the test indicated possible consumption of MDMA by Sharma and Mahesh Kumar, the SIT is trying to identify who procured the drug and whether any additional contraband was disposed of after the raid.Police have sought 10 days’ custody of Rohith, Ritesh and Sharma, who are currently in judicial remand. The court is likely to issue orders on Friday.According to SIT sources, among the other accused, Arjun Reddy is a friend of Rohith and is involved in the pub business in Hyderabad. Vijaya Krishna is a friend of Ritesh and was doing interior design work at the farmhouse. Priyanka is also his friend. Ramesh runs a poultry farm spread over one acre within the farmhouse premises, while Sravan Kumar is Rohith’s personal assistant.
