Nine students from MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences in Ghanpur, Medchal, tested positive for marijuana consumption following a probe by the Hyderabad unit of EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement) team.
All nine are hostelers and were identified through UPI transaction trails that led investigators to 100 suspected customers, including 32 medical students. Drug testing was conducted on 24 of them, confirming usage in nine cases, including two female students, said the director of EAGLE, Sandeep Shandilya.
“The students were counselled in the presence of their parents and the college principal. They have since been admitted to a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre. Officials said the next 30 days will be crucial for their recovery and reintegration. Surprise inspections and testing will continue across institutions in the State,” said the officer.
The revelations emerged after the arrest of Arfath Ahmed Khan, 23, who was caught with 2 kilograms of marijuana on August 1. A habitual user who turned to peddling to support his addiction, Arfath sourced marijuana from Zareena Banu, an inter-state supplier based in Bidar, Karnataka. He had been transferring money to her via UPI platforms between August 2024 and August 2025. He was remanded to judicial custody on August 2.
