The son of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Member of the Telangana Legislative Council, along with two other young men, was allegedly apprehended during a police drug raid in Mangalhat, Hyderabad, on the night of Wednesday, 16 July. The MLC, P. Venkatram Reddy, has flatly denied that his son consumed drugs or was arrested, calling media reports 'baseless and untrue.'

The Raid and What Police Found

The operation in the Mangalhat area was reportedly triggered by a tip-off that a group was allegedly involved in the purchase and consumption of marijuana and hash oil. Police apprehended three individuals — identified as Bharat Raj Reddy, Abhishek, and Yunith — while four others allegedly managed to flee the scene.

Authorities seized 24 grams of hash oil and 22 grams of marijuana during the raid. The three apprehended were taken to Mangalhat Police Station, where blood samples were collected, before being shifted to Osmania General Hospital for medical examination. Police have registered a case and launched a further investigation.

Search Underway for Four Absconding Accused

A search is currently under way for four individuals who allegedly escaped the raid — identified as Soni, Vamsi, Manoj, and Tulija. Police have not yet confirmed the status of their whereabouts.

What the MLC Said

BRS MLC P. Venkatram Reddy issued a statement strongly disputing the reports surrounding his son, Bharat Reddy. 'The news appearing in the media is baseless and untrue,' he said. According to the MLC, police visited his residence on the morning of 16 July, stating they were investigating a drug-related case and sought cooperation with the inquiry.

Venkatram Reddy maintained that the inquiry, once conducted, cleared his son. 'The investigation was conducted based on information linked to a phone number found in the contact list of a mutual acquaintance. Bharat was not arrested. He did not consume drugs,' the MLC said in his statement.

Mangalhat's Drug Enforcement History

Mangalhat has long been flagged by enforcement agencies as a hotspot for illicit liquor and narcotics activity. Multiple agencies — including the EAGLE Force (Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau), the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW), Law and Order Police, and the Prohibition and Excise Department — have been conducting regular raids in the area. This incident is the latest in a series of drug-related operations in the locality, underscoring persistent enforcement challenges in the zone.

With blood sample results pending and four accused still at large, the investigation remains active. The MLC's denial adds a political dimension to what began as a narcotics enforcement operation.