Former Hospital CEO Arrested In ₹5 Lakh Cocaine Procurement Case In Hyderabad (Image: LinkedIn/Namrata Chigurupati)
Hyderabad: A former hospital chief executive officer and practising medical doctor was arrested by Hyderabad police on Thursday for alleged possession and procurement of cocaine, marking a significant development in the city’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics-related offences.
Dr Namrata Chigurupati, 34, who previously served as the CEO of Omega Hospitals, was apprehended by Raidurgam police in Shaikpet after she was allegedly caught receiving a couriered consignment of cocaine valued at approximately ₹5 lakh. The delivery was made by Balakrishna, an aide of the primary supplier, Vansh Thakkar, based in Mumbai.
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According to law enforcement officials, the arrest was made following actionable intelligence. During the operation, authorities seized 53 grams of cocaine, ₹10,000 in cash, and two mobile phones from the accused. Both individuals were taken into custody at the scene and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
A third accused, identified as Vansh Thakkar, is currently absconding. Police have launched a search operation to trace his whereabouts.
Senior officials from the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing stated that Dr Chigurupati had placed the drug order via WhatsApp and completed the payment through an online transfer.
During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to sustained drug use and admitted to having spent an estimated ₹70 lakh on narcotics over a period of time.
Investigators revealed that Dr Chigurupati began using cocaine while pursuing an MBA in Spain. Upon returning to India after completing her postgraduate medical degree in Radiation Oncology from Amrita University in 2017, she is believed to have continued procuring the substance through known contacts.
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As per the preliminary findings, Dr Chigurupati would contact Thakkar whenever she required the drug. Initially meeting in person, the mode of delivery eventually shifted to third-party couriers, with pre-arranged locations communicated in advance.
A case has been registered under Sections 8(c), 21(b), and 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The investigation is ongoing, with officials not ruling out the possibility of a wider network involved in interstate drug trafficking.
The case has drawn considerable attention due to the profile of the accused and the implications it carries for drug use among professionals in high-pressure sectors.
(With inputs from agencies)
