Hyderabad: The allegations and suspicions of widespread use of drugs has created a stir in Telugu film industry in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
While Telugu actress Charmi Kaur appeared before the Special Investigation Team of the Prohibition and Enforcement Department in Hyderabad Wednesday, T Srinivas Yadav, cinematography minister of Telangana, said action would be taken against the film celebrities found using or supplying narcotics.
Speculations are rife that many other big names of Tollywood are likely to get the notices from the Excise Department on the basis of information collected during the questioning so far.
“Drug abuse is an individual matter and suspecting [the] entire [film] industry is wrong. Action will be taken on the basis of the material unearthed during the questioning by SIT,” the minister said.
Charmi Kaur drove to the Excise Commissioner’s office from a shooting schedule to appear before the SIT.
Charmi who had approached the High Court against the method of questioning of film celebrities was quizzed by a team comprising four women, including a deputy superintendent of police and three circle inspectors. There was no male officer in the team to avoid any controversy.
According to sources, most of questions asked to Charmi were about Puri Jagannath, a prominent film director who was questioned on the first day of the probe.
Charmi was asked whether she was using the narcotics substances and if so who was the supplier. She was asked whether she had supplied drugs to Puri and any other celebrities. She was also grilled about her visit to Bangkok and asked whether she had smuggled drugs into the country.
Charmi caught the attention of the Prohibition and Enforcement Department as they found her name in the phone of an alleged drug smuggler, Calvin Mascarenhas. The investigators found that the two had chatted frequently through WhatsApp.
Charmi had reportedly saved his name in her phone as Dada.
As the High Court had restricted the SIT questioning to a woman from 10am to 5pm, Charmi was likely to be summoned again.
Another actress Mumaith Khan, known for her item songs, is likely to be questioned Thursday. She is currently participating in reality TV show Big Boss.
Meanwhile, noted actor and YSRCP legislator Roja took strong objection to the publicity surrounding the questioning of the film celebrities. “What if these celebrities were found innocent? Will the department compensate the harm caused to the image of these actors and the film industry as a whole?” she asked at a media conference.
