A shocking case has emerged from Telangana, where a temple priest in Sangareddy district was arrested on Saturday for allegedly cultivating and selling ganja from within the temple premises, hiding the illegal crop among marigold plants.
The incident took place in Panchagam village of Narayankhed mandal in Sangareddy district. The accused, identified as Avuti Nagaiah, aged 48, worked as a temple priest and also projected himself as a spiritual guru among local villagers.
Who Is the Accused “Narasayya Maharaj”?
The accused, Narasayya, widely known in the region as “Narasayya Maharaj”, was serving as a temple priest and spiritual guide to residents of Panchagam and nearly ten surrounding villages.
While preaching spirituality and moral values to devotees, he was allegedly running an illegal ganja cultivation and distribution operation.
His Background: From Ashram to Drug Trade
According to officials, Narasayya’s wife had passed away, and he had married off his two daughters. After spending some time in an ashram, he returned to the village and assumed the role of a temple priest. While cultivating flowers for worship, he allegedly began growing ganja alongside them to earn extra income.
The Clever Disguise: Ganja Hidden Among Marigolds
Investigators found that ganja plants were being grown inside the temple premises itself, concealed within a marigold flower garden to avoid suspicion. The illegal cultivation was reportedly carried out under the guise of flower farming.
The accused was growing the drug in a flower garden, under the guise of farming marigolds.
The priest used the marigold flowers—commonly used for temple worship and garlands—as the perfect cover for his illegal cannabis cultivation. Since marigold farming is normal for any temple, the cannabis plants went unnoticed for a long time.
What Was Seized: The Staggering Haul
DTF Excise seized 685 plants, 17.741 kg of ganja, seeds, and cash worth ₹70 lakh.
Excise officials seized 15 kg of dry ganja and 600 ganja plants from the premises of a temple at Panchamgam village in Narayankhed mandal.
| Item Seized | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Ganja Plants | 685 plants |
| Dry Ganja | 15-17.74 kg |
| Ganja Seeds | Multiple packets |
| Cash | Significant amount |
| Total Estimated Value | ₹70 Lakh |
The Raid: How He Was Caught
Acting on credible intelligence, a DTF Excise team led by CI Shankar (Dubbak), along with SIs Hanumanth and Anudeep, and staff members Anji Reddy, Aruna Jyothi, Shiva Krishna, and Rajesh, conducted raids on Friday.
The operation was carried out on Friday under the supervision of DC Medak and the District Prohibition and Excise Officer, Sangareddy.
Narasayya was arrested and handed over to the Narayankhed Excise Police Station along with the seized contraband. DTF personnel involved in the operation were congratulated by Excise Enforcement Director Shanawaz Qasim, Medak Deputy Commissioner J. Harikishan, Assistant Commissioner Srinivas Reddy, ES Naveen Chandra, and AES Manemma for their successful crackdown.
How Did He Operate?
The priest allegedly ran his operation by:
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Cover Identity | Posed as spiritual guru “Narasayya Maharaj” |
| Trust Building | Preached moral values to devotees from 10+ villages |
| Camouflage | Grew cannabis among marigold flowers |
| Location | Used sacred temple premises as cultivation site |
| Processing | Processed ganja into sellable form on-site |
| Distribution | Sold to customers while maintaining holy image |
📊 Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| After wife’s death | Narasayya spends time in ashram |
| Return to village | Assumes role of temple priest |
| Over time | Begins cultivating ganja alongside marigolds |
| Friday, Jan 31, 2026 | DTF Excise conducts raid based on intelligence |
| Saturday, Feb 1, 2026 | Priest arrested, ₹70 lakh contraband seized |
😱 The Irony: Preaching Morality While Dealing Drugs
The most shocking aspect of this case is the stark contradiction between the priest’s public persona and his alleged criminal activities:
| Using flowers as a cover for cannabis | Reality (Alleged) |
|---|---|
| Spiritual guide to 10+ villages | Running drug cultivation operation |
| Preaching moral values | Growing and selling ganja |
| Temple priest cultivating flowers | Using flowers as cover for cannabis |
| Trusted religious figure | Betraying community trust for profit |
🌍 Not an Isolated Case: Religious Figures & Drug Scandals Worldwide
This case is part of a disturbing global pattern where religious figures have been caught involved in drug-related activities:
Thailand (2022-2025):
The incident occurred at a temple in Phetchabun province’s Bung Sam Phan district where four monks and an abbot were subjected to a drug test and each one tested positive for methamphetamine.
The four monks from the Sisaket province in Thailand were arrested after testing positive for methamphetamine. The monks admitted they had taken the drug and claimed it was to ease body pain—and to celebrate the beginning of the Buddhist Lent.
Nepal:
Three holy men (sadhus) were among those arrested. The crackdown began after authorities received complaints about the widespread use and sale of hashish inside the temple complex.
Legal Implications
Under Indian law, cultivation, possession, and sale of cannabis (ganja) is illegal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The accused faces serious charges, including:
- Cultivation of cannabis
- Possession of contraband
- Sale and distribution of narcotic substances
- Using religious premises for illegal activities
The penalties can include imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years and heavy fines depending on the quantity involved. Given the seizure value of ₹70 lakh, this falls under the “commercial quantity” category, attracting stricter punishment.
💬 Social Media Reactions
The case has sparked outrage on social media, with many expressing shock and disappointment:
Common Reactions:
- 💬 “This is why blind faith is dangerous—always verify who you trust”
- 💬 “A temple priest growing ganja? What has the world come to?”
- 💬 “The marigold disguise is actually clever—and that makes it even more disturbing”
- 💬 “He betrayed the trust of 10 villages while preaching morality”
- 💬 “Excellent work by DTF Excise—no one is above the law”
