Tamil actor Srikanth arrested for allegedly shopping for cocaine from drug cartel

Tamil movie actor Srikanth, often known as Sriram Krishnamachari, 46, was arrested on Monday by the Nungambakkam police of the Better Chennai Police for allegedly shopping for cocaine from a drug cartel. The cartel features a Ghanaian nationwide who was lately arrested. The authorities are looking out for actor Krishna, who’s believed to be in Kerala.

A senior police officer confirmed the arrest and mentioned Srikanth had been in common contact with three drug offenders arrested lately. “Our investigation revealed that he procured and consumed cocaine… Additional investigation is underneath means,” the officer mentioned.

Srikanth made his huge display performing debut within the 2002 Tamil movie Roja Kootam. He has additionally starred in notable movies like April Maadhathil (2002), Parthiban Kanavu (2003), Okariki Okaru (2003), and the Tamil remake of 3 Idiots, titled Nanban (2012). Srikanth has obtained a number of awards, together with Nandi Awards and Filmfare Awards.

To fight drug-trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) operates underneath the supervision of Better Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun. It gathers intelligence on ganja and artificial medication, identifies offenders and networks, and works with native police stations to make arrests.

On June 17, primarily based on the ANIU’s inputs, the Nungambakkam police arrested Pradeep Kumar, alias Prado, 38, of Sankari in Salem, and John, 38, a Ghanaian nationwide, after they had been present in possession of 11 grams of cocaine. Throughout interrogation, Pradeep mentioned he had provided medication to T. Prasad, a dismissed AIADMK functionary, who offered the cocaine to Srikanth at a Nungambakkam pub final month.

Brawl at bar

Prasad, alongside along with his associates, had been arrested earlier in reference to a brawl at a bar. Additional investigation revealed that he had additionally been concerned in a job racket, dishonest a Hyderabad businessman. Police sources mentioned Prasad had labored in movie manufacturing with Srikanth and the latter continuously socialised with the offenders.

The police searched Srikanth’s residence within the Nungambakkam Lake Space, the place cocaine in small portions was allegedly seized. On Monday morning, Srikanth was detained for questioning after which arrested after his blood take a look at got here again optimistic for narcotics. He was examined on the Rajiv Gandhi Authorities Common Hospital.

Sourced from Bengaluru

The cocaine was reportedly sourced from Bengaluru by means of Pradeep  and John, who bought it for ₹7,000 per gram and offered it in Chennai for ₹12,000.

Mr. Arun has directed the ANIU and the native regulation enforcement businesses to accentuate surveillance and crack down on organised narcotics trafficking. Investigations are underneath solution to apprehend different people linked to the syndicate.