Popular Tamil and Telugu actor Srikanth has been remanded to judicial custody until July 7 by a Chennai court in connection with a cocaine-related investigation. The actor was questioned for several hours at Nungambakkam police station before his formal arrest.
Police allege that Srikanth had purchased and consumed cocaine and was in contact with known drug suppliers. Blood test reports reportedly confirmed the presence of drugs in his system.
This case is part of a larger crackdown following the arrest of a former AIADMK member involved in a pub brawl, which led investigators to uncover a broader drug network, ultimately implicating Srikanth.
Srikanth, a familiar face in South Indian cinema since his debut in 2002 with Roja Kootam, has acted in nearly 70 films, including the Tamil blockbuster Nanban, directed by Shankar.
The actor’s legal team has yet to comment on the developments.
This arrest comes amid intensified narcotics enforcement in Tamil Nadu, with recent drug seizures prompting political debates. Opposition parties AIADMK and BJP have criticized the ruling DMK, accusing it of poor law enforcement. The DMK counters by highlighting proactive police efforts.
Tamil Nadu Police maintain that the state has one of the lowest rates of drug use nationally, as per NCRB data, and continues to take strong action against traffickers and users.
In a recent interview with NDTV, Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal noted that while the state is not a narcotics producer, it serves as a transit hub for international drug trafficking, particularly to Sri Lanka and neighboring countries.
