Chennai:
Following several hours of questioning at the Nungambakkam police station, Srikanth was formally arrested. Police sources indicate that he is suspected of purchasing and using cocaine, as well as having connections with known drug suppliers. Blood samples taken from him have reportedly confirmed drug use.
This case is part of a larger crackdown on a drug network that surfaced after a recent altercation at a pub involving a former AIADMK member, whose arrest led authorities to multiple suspects, ultimately resulting in Srikanth’s detention.
Srikanth, well-known in the South Indian film industry, made his debut in 2002 with Roja Kootam and has since appeared in nearly 70 films, including significant performances in Nanban, the Tamil adaptation of the Bollywood film Three Idiots, directed by Shankar.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Srikanth’s legal team.
His arrest is part of a broader rise in drug seizures and narcotics-related investigations throughout Tamil Nadu. This situation has prompted sharp political responses, with the opposition parties, including AIADMK and BJP, criticizing the ruling DMK for a perceived deterioration in law and order. The DMK has firmly countered these claims, presenting the police’s actions as signs of proactive enforcement.
The Tamil Nadu Police assert that the state has one of the lowest rates of drug usage in the country, according to NCRB data, and emphasize that they are taking strict measures against both dealers and users.
In a recent exclusive interview with NDTV, Director General of Police Mr. Shankar Jiwal mentioned that while Tamil Nadu does not produce narcotics, it has unfortunately become a transit hub for international drug trafficking, particularly for shipments heading to Sri Lanka and beyond.
