Car rams actor Dharma's house in Hyderabad's Film Nagar; drunk driver detained
Synopsis
Two bizarre alcohol-linked incidents rocked Telangana on the same night: a car allegedly driven by intoxicated youths smashed into Tollywood actor Dharma's home in Hyderabad's upscale Jubilee Hills, while in Jangaon, a tractor driver stole an empty TGSRTC bus and drove it 21 km before crashing at a toll plaza. No fatalities were reported, but both cases spotlight drunk driving as a persistent public safety hazard.
Key Takeaways
A car crashed into Tollywood actor Dharma's residence in Film Nagar, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad past midnight on 10 July .
The driver was allegedly intoxicated; no injuries were reported, but the boundary wall and vehicle sustained significant damage.
Jubilee Hills police detained the youth and registered a case; investigation is ongoing.
In a separate incident, Venkanna of Palakurthi allegedly stole a TGSRTC -hired bus from Jangaon bus stand while drunk.
He drove the bus 21 km toward Suryapet before crashing near Singarajupally toll gate; he has been arrested.
A car crashed into the residence of Tollywood actor Dharma in the Film Nagar locality of Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, in the early hours of Friday, 10 July, police confirmed. No injuries were reported in the incident, which caused significant structural and vehicular damage.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to police, the vehicle was allegedly being driven by intoxicated youths at excessive speed past midnight when the driver lost control. The car ploughed through the actor's gate and came to a halt inside the premises. A portion of the boundary wall collapsed under the force of the impact, and the vehicle itself was extensively damaged.
The loud collision woke actor Dharma and his family members, who then filed a complaint with local police. Officers reached the scene promptly and detained the youth behind the wheel, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Case Registered, Investigation Underway
Jubilee Hills police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. The detained youth faces charges linked to drunk driving and property damage. Film Nagar, situated within the upscale Jubilee Hills neighbourhood, is home to several prominent figures from the Telugu film industry.
Second Drunk-Driving Incident: Man Steals TGSRTC Bus in Jangaon
In a separate and equally unusual incident, a man allegedly stole a hired bus belonging to the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) from Jangaon bus stand while reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
The accused, identified as Venkanna, a resident of Palakurthi and a tractor driver by profession, reportedly wanted to travel to Tirupati. After visiting a nearby railway station twice and finding no trains available, he made his way to Jangaon bus stand, where he spotted an RTC-hired bus parked on the premises.
How Venkanna Was Caught
According to police, Venkanna entered the empty bus and managed to start it using the vehicle's own toolkit. He then drove the bus approximately 21 kilometres along the Suryapet route before it came to an abrupt halt after striking a cement block near the Singarajupally toll gate.
Toll plaza staff grew suspicious when the driver repeatedly rammed the divider while attempting to reverse the bus and appeared unable to manoeuvre it properly. They alerted police, who arrived and detained Venkanna. He has since been arrested. Both incidents highlight a recurring concern around drunk driving and public safety on Telangana's roads.
Point of View
Another on a state highway — are not coincidental noise; they are a pattern. Telangana's drunk-driving enforcement has repeatedly come under scrutiny after high-profile incidents, yet late-night checks remain inconsistent outside peak festival periods. The Jubilee Hills crash is the kind of incident that makes headlines because of the address; the TGSRTC bus theft is the kind that should, because a stolen 21-km bus joyride ending at a toll plaza exposes a glaring gap in fleet security protocols. Both deserve equal policy attention, not just FIRs.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at actor Dharma's house in Hyderabad?
A car allegedly driven by intoxicated youths crashed through the gate of Tollywood actor Dharma's residence in Film Nagar, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, in the early hours of 10 July. No one was injured, but the boundary wall collapsed and the vehicle was extensively damaged.
Was anyone arrested in the Film Nagar crash?
Yes. Jubilee Hills police detained the youth who was driving the vehicle, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
Who is Venkanna and what did he do?
Venkanna is a tractor driver and resident of Palakurthi, Telangana, who allegedly stole a TGSRTC-hired bus from Jangaon bus stand while drunk. He drove the empty bus about 21 km before crashing near the Singarajupally toll gate and was subsequently arrested by police.
How did police catch the TGSRTC bus thief?
Toll plaza staff at Singarajupally alerted police after noticing the driver repeatedly ramming the divider and struggling to reverse the bus. Police arrived and detained Venkanna, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
Were there any casualties in either incident?
No fatalities or injuries were reported in either the Film Nagar car crash or the Jangaon bus theft incident, according to police.
