PANAJI
The B-Tech student from Andhra Pradesh, who survived a drug overdose, is likely to be taken into custody as Goa Police is contemplating sending its team to his home state where he is believed to have escaped upon discharge from Goa Medical College and Hospital.
Devineni Trilok Chaudhary and two of his two friends arrived in Goa on a short vacation on September 20. En route to Calangute via a tourist taxi, where they had booked a hotel for stay, the trio was offered cocaine by the driver, according to the police. “Chaudhary consumed about 1 gm of cocaine but soon complained of uneasiness after which he was rushed to the GMCH. He fortunately survived,” an official said.
While the driver remains unidentified even as police are looking for leads to track him down, another team is expected to leave for AP. “We are trying to connect with our counterparts in AP by officially sending them a request to assist us in the investigation. We will take him into custody for investigation. A search for the unidentified driver is simultaneously underway,” the official added. The Calangute police have already registered a First Information Report while Deputy Collector is also holding an inquiry.
This is the third case of an overdose within a span of less than 45 days wherein two cases – that of a Puducherry student and BJP leader Sonali Phogat - turned fatal. While the Saligao police investigating the student’s death are awaiting viscera reports, Phogat’s case has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on her family’s demand.
The State has recorded over two dozen drug raids in a recent crackdown following the controversial death of the BJP loyalist. Goan, domestic and international travelers have been taken into custody and drugs worth several lakhs of rupees are recovered.
