A cocaine seizure in Visakhapatnam has snowballed into a major political controversy in Andhra Pradesh, with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) accusing the TDP-led coalition of shielding drug networks. The July 5 arrest of Chekuri Akshay, who allegedly procured 1 gram of cocaine from Delhi, and South African national Thomas Dziman, has raised serious concerns about the growing drug culture in the state.
According to police, the duo was caught after reportedly consuming drugs at a Vizag pub linked to individuals close to the ruling alliance. The remand report confirms drug use and planning at the venue, sparking suspicions of deeper political connections.
YSRCP leader Gudivada Amarnath alleged that prominent alliance leaders — including MP M. Sribharat, East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna, and MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy and his son — are connected to the case. He claimed a TDP MLA tried to pressure police to release suspects and demanded public access to CCTV footage and call records.
The police have launched a wider probe, sending teams to Delhi to track suppliers, including identified dealers Prince alias Omenefe and Buchhi. Akshay reportedly named his friends Raghu, Krishna Chaitanya, and Gautam as co-users.
Calling Visakhapatnam a “breeding ground for drugs,” the YSRCP accused the alliance government of turning a blind eye to drug circulation and protecting politically linked offenders. With frequent busts involving ganja and now cocaine, the opposition argues that the state is fast becoming a hub for narcotics — and blames the current regime’s alleged complicity.
