Copyright thehindu
Six students from the Culinary Academy of India in Begumpet were arrested by the Hyderabad Narcotics Police Station of the EAGLE Force for consuming ganja during a birthday party, following surveillance and credible intelligence. According to officials, 11 students were initially questioned after being suspected of drug use. Urine drug tests conducted in the presence of their parents and college principal confirmed that six of them tested positive for THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, which is banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The students, identified as Sakshi Emaliya, 22, Mohit Shahi, 21, Shubham Rawat, 27, Carolina Cynthiya Harrison, 19, Aric Jonathan Anthony, 21, and Loy Baruah, 22, are all in their final year of the Bachelor’s in Catering Technology and Culinary Arts programme. A case has been registered under Section 27(b) of the NDPS Act at the Hyderabad Narcotics Police Station. Police said the students were counselled in the presence of their parents and the college principal, N. Sudhakar Rao, before being sent to a government de-addiction centre for rehabilitation. Both the parents and the accused requested that prosecution be withdrawn if rehabilitation is completed satisfactorily, in which case the case may be closed under Section 64A of the NDPS Act. Investigators revealed that a youth named Jason, a resident of SR Nagar and a friend of some of the accused, had been supplying ganja to them. One of the students, Mohit, had reportedly been transferred from Manipal University, Udupi, to Hyderabad after earlier incidents of substance use. Officials described the episode as a recurring concern, noting that the Culinary Academy of India has been the focus of earlier drug-related cases. Despite repeated awareness programmes and warnings by the Telangana EAGLE Force, authorities allege that the management failed to enforce adequate anti-drug measures. Previous offenders had been counselled and let off, but officials said that leniency did little to deter further violations. The recurrence of such cases reflects institutional negligence, officials said, adding that surprise doping tests will now be conducted regularly in coordination with the college management. Parents of the accused urged the college to introduce random drug testing as a preventive measure, stressing that stronger vigilance and emotional support at home are equally crucial to deter young people from addiction. The officials urged citizens to report drug-related activity confidentially through its toll-free number 1908, WhatsApp helpline 87126 71111, or email tsnabho-hyd@tspolice.gov.in.
