Customs officer, key accused met in Hyd for pub venture

Hyderabad: In a twist that has added intrigue to the international hydroponic ganja peddling case, investigators found that a customs superintendent reportedly not only met Hemang Keluskar - the key accused arrested by Eagle Force - but also arranged local transport for him during a visit to scout a site for a pub in Kokapet.Eagle Force sleuths, who interrogated Hemang multiple times after his arrest on April 11 in Karjat, Maharashtra, said he had flown into Hyderabad on April 3 with another accused Suraj Pal to explore launching 'Jalwa' pub in Kokapet with a budget of ₹20-30 crore. Suraj was handling hydroponic ganja couriers, and Hemang, wary of being linked, ensured they booked separate tickets on the same flight, paying in cash."Once we arrived at RGI Airport, a customs superintendent sent his vehicle to the airport and we went to a star hotel in Banjara Hills.

The superintendent and his friend, Faraaz, met us at the hotel and I introduced them to Suraj. We discussed forming a new company. The superintendent introduced a realtor, Srinivas, to us," Hemang is believed to have told the interrogators during his second custodial interrogation on May 18.Hemang also reportedly revealed discussions with the customs official about dismantling ships abroad. "We also decided to dismantle huge ships in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and sell the scrap in Hyderabad to metal companies," he is believed to have said.

After the meeting, the group dined in Financial District, with Faraaz arranging Hemang's hotel stay, before heading to Kokapet to inspect the prospective pub site.'Talks on pub partnership'"The customs superintendent and Srinivas took Hemang to Kokapet and showed him an under-construction mall. They told Hemang that they were interested in opening a pub in that mall and asked him to become a partner. Hemang told them that they could make a profit only if the pub was allowed to run till late hours.

He made a video call and showed the property to his father, Pramod, and Kamal, partner in Jalwa pub in Pattaya," said an official.Hemang's plans were cut short when his gang members were arrested on April 7 and 8 with hydroponic ganja smuggled from Thailand. He was picked up in Karjat on April 11 and remanded. "We called the customs official for questioning, but he was not booked since he had only met Hemang regarding business deals.

The customs official said he was introduced to Hemang by a GST official," an Eagle Force officer added.Before acquiring a 7% stake in Pattaya's Jalwa pub in 2023, Hemang had operated Studio F Club in Dubai, which he sold for ₹4.5 crore. He was reportedly earning ₹6-7 lakh a month from Jalwa and reinvesting the profits into two hydroponic ganja-producing companies in Thailand, run by Thai, Uruguayan, American and British nationals.