Hyderabad: Excise Director Dr. Akun Sabharwal who initiated a war on drugs and finally busted one of the biggest drug rackets involving Tollywood bigwigs is being sent on leave obviously to dilute the investigation. And maybe, also to save the skin of some 'important persons' in the industry.

The Excise department has so far arrested 12 persons in connection with the drugs mafia and sent notices to several film personalities asking them to attend in person for an inquiry in the case from July 19 to 27. Strangely, the Excise Director, who is personally responsible for the busting of the racket earlier this month with the arrest of drug dealer Calvin Mascarenhas is going on a 10-day leave from July 16.

Though his leave was applied for and sanctioned some time back, an official in such a responsible position and at such a critical moment would have cancelled his personal works. He is about to go to his native place in Punjab to perform a ceremony for his mother who expired two months back.

Speaking to the media, Akun clarified that his leave was purely on his personal reasons and it cannot be cancelled now. He said there was no pressure on him from the government to dilute the case. He also said the names projected in the media are not released by the Excise department and it is against the rules to disclose names during the investigation.

Opposition parties including Congress and TDP see Akun's leave at this critical juncture as a move by the government only to save some biggies involved in the scam. Congress leader Mallu Ravi alleged that the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is sending the Excise Director on leave with ulterior motives.

Akun initiated crack down on drugs in Hyderabad way back in 2009 when he was a DCP in the city.

Dr. Akun Sabharwal, a 2001 batch Indian Police Service Officer borne on the Telangana Cadre, has been given the charge of Director, Excise in September 2015 in addition to his responsibilities as Director, Drugs Control Administration. He did his bachelor's in Dental health and master's in police administration before getting selected to the IPS.

He has made efforts to improve the regulatory mechanism in pharmaceutical manufacturing and sales. The DCA has conducted a series of raids on manufacturing facilities, corporate hospitals, online pharmacies, blood banks and medical stores across the state and a number of cases were booked against violators. He has also started an awareness campaign 'No Bill, No Pill' to curb issuing of medicines without prescription.

As Director of Excise department, he has been taking several measures to control illicit distillation of liquor and its sale in the state.

Meanwhile, actress Mummaith Khan, cameraman Shyam K Naidu, art director Chinna and Subbaraju denied having received any notices in connection with the drugs case while Raviteja, Charmee, Puri Jagannath are yet react on the reports.

Actors Navdeep, Tarun, Tanish and Nandu also rubbished the reports suggesting that the notices were issues on them.