Rs 25 lakh advance, Rs 3.5 lakh rent; ED finds drug dealings behind hotel business

Bengaluru: Drug case accused Anoop Mohammed was managing a rented hotel at Kalyan Nagar in Bengaluru for the purpose of drug dealings, found the Narcotics Control Bureau. NCB had monitored the activities of Anoop and his accomplices centred in the hotel for months before they were nabbed. According to NCB’s findings, Bineesh Kodiyeri appointed Anoop as his benami for the hotel management and spend money on it.

Anoop and two others had rented the Royal Suites hotel in Kalyan Nagar paying Rs 25 lakh advance and at a monthly rent of Rs 3.5 lakh. The rent agreement was signed in February.

Anoop was staying in the 205 number room at the hotel. Many high profile persons including Bineesh Kodiyeri had visited here apart from foreigners. According to Anoop’s statements, Bineesh had pooled in money for the hotel business.

NCB started monitoring the hotel on a tip-off on drug parties hosted at the hotel. On August 21, Anoop was arrested from 205-number room of the hotel for possession of drugs.

After Anoop was arrested, the hotel owner cancelled the agreement and took back the hotel. The documents regarding financial deals with him have been submitted to the probe team by hotel authorities. At present the hotel is rented for office purposes. Anoop’s bullet under Thiruvananthapuram registration is still parked at the hotel. However, the keys were seized by NCB.