Popular Tamil and Telugu film actor Srikanth has been arrested by Chennai police for alleged cocaine consumption and procurement.
The 46-year-old, also known as Sriram in Telugu cinema, has been remanded to judicial custody until July 7 by the 14th Egmore Criminal Court.
His arrest stems from a wider crackdown on narcotics use in Tamil Nadu, with authorities now expanding their investigation into the drug network possibly involving others from the Tamil film industry.
Srikanth’s name surfaced during the interrogation of Prasad, a former AIADMK party IT wing administrator who was earlier arrested following a bar brawl.
According to police sources, Prasad allegedly supplied cocaine to Srikanth on several occasions, including as a substitute for Rs10 lakh in unpaid film dues. Srikanth, reportedly co-producing a recent film, said he accepted the drugs as compensation and gradually developed an addiction.
“I made a mistake by consuming drugs,” Srikanth told the court during his remand hearing. He cited family struggles and a desire to care for his young son while requesting bail.
However, Magistrate Dayalan ruled that bail could only be sought through the Special NDPS Court, given the nature of the charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Srikanth was detained after a lengthy interrogation at Nungambakkam police station in Chennai, where his blood samples were collected and tested positive for drug usage.
Investigators allege that Srikanth hosted a cocaine-fuelled party at his Chennai residence shortly after returning from Dubai, leading to his formal arrest.
Further investigation revealed Srikanth allegedly spent Rs4.72 lakh on cocaine over multiple transactions. A police petition has been filed to take both Srikanth and Prasad into custody for three days for joint interrogation to uncover the full extent of the drug supply network.
Authorities are also probing connections to other individuals, including actor Krishna and another suspect, Pradeep Kumar.
Srikanth began his career in television with Jannal – Marabu Kavithaigal before rising to fame with his 2002 film debut Roja Kootam. He later appeared in acclaimed projects like Nanban and several Telugu and Malayalam films.
His most recent work includes the web series Harikatha and the Telugu film Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi. His next Tamil release is Theenkirai.
The arrest has sent ripples through the Tamil film industry, with the case seen as a flashpoint in Tamil Nadu’s battle against narcotics.
Police say the crackdown will continue, aiming to dismantle what may be a growing drug link within the state’s entertainment industry.
