Tamil film actorĀ Srikanth, also known asĀ SriramĀ Krishnamachari, 46, was arrested on Monday by theĀ NungambakkamĀ police of the Greater Chennai Police for allegedly buying cocaine from a drug cartel. The cartel includes a Nigerian national who was recently arrested. The authorities are on the lookout for actor Krishna, who is believed to be in Kerala.
A senior police officer confirmed the arrest and saidĀ SrikanthĀ had been in regular contact with three drug offenders arrested recently. āOur investigation revealed that he procured and consumed cocaine… Further investigation is under way,ā the officer said.
SrikanthĀ made his big screen acting debut in the 2002 Tamil filmĀ RojaĀ Kootam. He has also starred in notable films likeĀ AprilĀ MaadhathilĀ (2002),Ā ParthibanĀ KanavuĀ (2003),Ā OkarikiĀ OkaruĀ (2003), and the Tamil remake ofĀ 3 Idiots, titledĀ NanbanĀ (2012).Ā SrikanthĀ has received multiple awards, including Nandi Awards and Filmfare Awards.
To combat drug-trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) operates under the supervision of Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun.Ā It gathers intelligence on ganja and synthetic drugs, identifies offenders and networks, and works with local police stations to make arrests.
On June 17, based on theĀ ANIUāsĀ inputs, theĀ NungambakkamĀ police arrestedĀ PradeepĀ Kumar, aliasĀ Prado, 38, ofĀ SankariĀ in Salem, and John, 38, aĀ GhanaianĀ national, after they were found in possession of 11 grams of cocaine. During interrogation,Ā PradeepĀ said he had supplied drugs to T. Prasad, a dismissedĀ AIADMKĀ functionary, who sold the cocaine toĀ SrikanthĀ at aĀ NungambakkamĀ pub last month.
Brawl at bar
Prasad, along with his associates, had been arrested earlier in connection with a brawl at a bar. Further investigation revealed that he had also been involved in a job racket, cheating a Hyderabad businessman. Police sources said Prasad had worked in film production withĀ SrikanthĀ and the latter frequently socialised with the offenders.
The police searchedĀ SrikanthāsĀ residence in theĀ NungambakkamĀ Lake Area, where cocaine in small quantities was allegedly seized. On Monday morning,Ā SrikanthĀ was detained for questioning and then arrested after his blood test came back positive for narcotics. He was examined at theĀ RajivĀ Gandhi Government General Hospital.
Sourced from Bengaluru
The cocaine was reportedly sourced from BengaluruĀ throughĀ PradeepĀ and John, who purchased it for ā¹7,000 per gram and sold it in Chennai for ā¹12,000.
Mr. Arun has directed theĀ ANIUĀ and the local law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance and crack down on organised narcotics trafficking. Investigations are under way to apprehend other individuals linked to the syndicate.