Tamil movie actor Srikanth, also referred to 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 features a Ghanaian nationwide who was just 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 stated Srikanth had been in common contact with three drug offenders arrested just lately. “Our investigation revealed that he procured and consumed cocaine… Further investigation is under way,” the officer stated.
Srikanth made his massive display screen 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 Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun. It gathers intelligence on ganja and artificial medicine, 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 have been present in possession of 11 grams of cocaine. During interrogation, Pradeep stated he had provided medicine to T. Prasad, a dismissed AIADMK functionary, who bought the cocaine to Srikanth at a Nungambakkam pub final month.
Brawl at bar
Prasad, alongside together with his associates, had been arrested earlier in reference to a brawl at a bar. Further investigation revealed that he had additionally been concerned in a job racket, dishonest a Hyderabad businessman. Police sources stated Prasad had labored in movie manufacturing with Srikanth and the latter ceaselessly socialised with the offenders.
The police searched Srikanth’s residence within the Nungambakkam Lake Area, 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 constructive for narcotics. He was examined on the Rajiv Gandhi Government General 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 bought it in Chennai for ₹12,000.
Mr. Arun has directed the ANIU and the native legislation enforcement businesses to accentuate surveillance and crack down on organised narcotics trafficking. Investigations are underneath option to apprehend different people linked to the syndicate.
