Probe Ex-CS Somesh Kumar In Drugs Case: Bandi Sanjay

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar today accused the Telangana government of treating narcotic drug cases as a seasonal exercise limited to festivals and New Year celebrations, and demanded an immediate probe into former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar for allegedly suppressing a major drugs investigation conducted during the previous BRS regime.

Sanjay asked why the Congress-led government had failed to act on the drugs investigation report prepared under the supervision of IPS officer Akun Sabharwal during the tenure of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

He alleged that several prominent individuals, including film personalities, were named in the report, and claimed that statements recorded during the probe revealed links between drug peddlers and members of KCR's family, including allegations of drug consumption.

According to Sanjay, fearing political fallout, KCR removed Sabharwal from the investigation midway.

The Union minister also alleged that Somesh Kumar seized the entire investigation report, along with audio-video evidence and statements, and neither handed them over to the subsequent probe teams nor submitted them to the court, resulting in the case being buried.

Demanding action, Sanjay said that the Eagle anti-drugs team, operating under the Chief Minister, needed to interrogate Somesh Kumar immediately if the government was serious about eradicating drugs.

He also raised doubts about the Eagle team's legal authority, and alleged that some officers might have been compromised. He also asked why drug consumers caught during a recent Eagle team operation had not been arrested.

He urged the government to hand over drug investigations to experienced officers like Sabharwal, and said that superficial case registrations would not eliminate the drug menace.