School Director Jaya Prakash Goud Arrested for Alprazolam Manufacturing Inside Medha School
In a shocking discovery, Hyderabad police, led by the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), uncovered a covert alprazolam drug manufacturing lab hidden inside Medha School, Bowenpally. The raid led to the arrest of school director Malela Jaya Prakash Goud and two associates. Authorities seized over 7 kilograms of alprazolam, ₹21 lakh in cash, and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment.
The drug, alprazolam, commonly known under the brand name Xanax, is used medically to treat anxiety but has become a major substance of abuse. Officials confiscated 3.5 kg of finished product and 4.3 kg of semi-processed tablets, along with raw materials from the school’s chemistry lab that had been repurposed into an industrial-scale drug production unit.
Balanagar Mandal Education Officer Harish Chandra revoked all recognition, affiliations, and permissions of Medha School. With only 63 students currently enrolled, authorities are relocating them to nearby institutions with parental consent to ensure uninterrupted education.
SP Sita Ram stated that the accused justified the crime due to financial difficulties: monthly building rent of Rs70,000 and maintenance over Rs1 lakh. But the high profit margin of alprazolam (Rs12,000/kg market rate) was the main driver. Goud allegedly paid Rs2 lakh to learn the drug-making process from an associate named Guruvareddy.
Authorities also raised alarms over the increasing abuse of alprazolam-laced toddy, especially in Telangana. Since 2014, over 39,000 cases of adulterated toddy have been registered. Hyderabad alone has 97 licensed toddy outlets, but unlicensed production is rampant.
Though students attended regular classes on the lower floors, the school’s upper levels housed secret labs equipped with chemical reactors and dryers. The choice of odorless chemicals and the school’s location on a busy road helped the criminals avoid suspicion.
EAGLE is continuing its probe into the wider distribution network, chemical suppliers, and source of leaked manufacturing knowledge. All seized assets are being handed over to the government, and more arrests are expected.
The community has demanded stricter Drug Control Administration oversight to prevent similar cases and ensure child safety in educational institutions.
