The Hyderabad Police is investigating the involvement of four MLAs and a MP in human smuggling rackets similar to the Babubhai Katara case.

This can of worms opened after a Delhi Police team visited Hyderabad to investigate Katara’s case. Sources said that topmost on the Hyderabad Police’s list is Telangana Rashtra Samiti deputy leader A Narendra. One of the accused has named Rashid, a name that had cropped up in the Katara case, his travel agent.

“We have taken up investigations against four state MLAs and one MP. We have received documents as well as photographs and are investigating,” Hyderabad Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh told The Indian Express. But, Narendra claimed he had never undertaken any overseas trip, though he had many unstamped visas.

Another name that has cropped up is TRS MLA Kasipeta Lingaiah. According to sources, Lingaiah smuggled a young woman abroad by using his wife’s passport. He replaced his wife’s photograph with hers on the passport and ration card. Police have dispatched a team to Karimnagar, Lingaiah’s constituency. Sources said that the other MLAs involved in similar cases are Swayam Babu Rao and Harish Rao, also from the TRS.

Meanwhile, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao said that he is planning to expel Narendra from the party following these accusations. But officials said more names are bound to crop up, and this time from other parties as well.