Excise police arrested three friends in Hyderabad on the morning of Saturday 31 October 2026 and seized seven kilograms of ganja from them.[1] The State Excise Task Force team, led by Inspector Nagaraju, intercepted them at Gaganpahad as they prepared to hand over the seven kilograms to local peddlers.[1] Those arrested were Chevula Mahesh Kumar, 34, an HR professional at Bharat Fin Machine in Bengaluru, and Gampa Prashanth, 21, and Dandu Manoj Kumar, 24, both from Nellore district.[1] The Telugu-language Janavaani named the same three men.[2] It reported that the seized ganja and the car were handed over to the Rajendranagar excise station.[2]

Officers also seized the hired car used to carry the ganja and the suspects’ mobile phones.[1] Deccan Chronicle put the value of the seven kilograms at about Rs 3.5 lakh, or 350,000 rupees.[3]

According to excise officials, Mahesh Kumar financed the operation and the three friends hired a car to travel to Araku, near Visakhapatnam.[1] They allegedly bought the ganja there at Rs 5,000 a kilogram and planned to sell it in Hyderabad to local dealers at Rs 50,000 a kilogram.[1]