The Bengaluru rave party scandal took an intriguing twist as Telugu film luminary Hema found herself apprehended by the Central Crime Branch following an intensive inquiry on Monday. The revelry, which transpired on May 19 in the vicinity of Electronic City, subsequently fell under the investigative lens.

Hema, summoned by the CCB, attempted to shroud her presence in a burqa to maintain anonymity. Nonetheless, her evasive answers did little to appease the investigators, culminating in her detainment.

Facing the media throng outside the precinct, Hema vociferously proclaimed her innocence, asserting, “I stand falsely accused. I partook in no illicit substances. My video denial was recorded in Hyderabad, not Bengaluru. I even shared footage of myself cooking biryani in Hyderabad.”

The gathering, ostensibly a birthday celebration, predominantly drew participants from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with a smattering of attendees from Bengaluru, as per CCB insiders.

Acting on clandestine intelligence, the CCB executed a raid at the site, administering blood tests to attendees. Results indicated that 86 out of 103 individuals, including Hema, had ingested narcotics.

The operation yielded an impressive cache: MDMA pills, MDMA crystals, cannabis, cocaine, luxury vehicles, and DJ paraphernalia, collectively valued at Rs 1.5 crore.

Prior to her arrest, Hema had disseminated a video professing her innocence, claiming to be at a Hyderabad farmhouse and denying any association with the Bengaluru affair. She aired her vexation over the erroneous accusations and released another video depicting herself engaged in culinary activities at home.