Tamil actor Srikanth arrested for allegedly buying cocaine from drug cartel
Tamil film actor Srikanth, also known as Sriram Krishnamachari, 46, was arrested on Monday by the Nungambakkam 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 said Srikanth had been in regular contact with three drug offenders arrested recently. 'Our investigation revealed that he procured and consumed cocaine... Further investigation is under way,' the officer said.
Srikanth made his big screen acting debut in the 2002 Tamil film Roja Kootam. He has also starred in notable films like April Maadhathil (2002), Parthiban Kanavu (2003), Okariki Okaru (2003), and the Tamil remake of 3 Idiots, titled Nanban (2012). Srikanth 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. 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 the ANIU's inputs, the Nungambakkam police arrested Pradeep Kumar, alias Prado, 38, of Sankari in Salem, and John, 38, a Ghanaian national, after they were found in possession of 11 grams of cocaine. During interrogation, Pradeep said he had supplied drugs to T. Prasad, a dismissed AIADMK functionary, who sold the cocaine to Srikanth at a Nungambakkam 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 with Srikanth and the latter frequently socialised with the offenders.
The police searched Srikanth's residence in the Nungambakkam Lake Area, where cocaine in small quantities was allegedly seized. On Monday morning, Srikanth was detained for questioning and then arrested after his blood test came back positive for narcotics. He was examined at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
Sourced from Bengaluru
The cocaine was reportedly sourced from Bengaluru through Pradeep and John, who purchased it for ₹7,000 per gram and sold it in Chennai for ₹12,000.
Mr. Arun has directed the ANIU 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.
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