Actor Srikanth and Krishna granted conditional bail in drug case
The Madras High Court has granted conditional bail to actors Srikanth and Krishna in a high-profile drug-related case, which gives them temporary relief among ongoing investigation. To ensure cooperation with investigation, actors should follow strict circumstances including daily showers before the investigating officer.
In short
- Madras HC granted conditional bail to actors Srikanth and Krishna
- Both were arrested in a drug case in June
- No drugs were found on Srikanth, while Krishna’s medical examinations did not show any drug use
The Madras High Court has granted conditional bail to actors Srikanth and Krishna, who were arrested in connection with the case related to drugs. The decision comes after the special NDPS court rejected his initial bail arguments in Chennai, inspiring the actors to file new petitions. The case has attracted the attention of important public due to the participation of famous personalities.
The arrest of Srikanth and Krishna respectively, which took place on 23 June and 26 June respectively, was based on the confession of the main accused Pradeep Kumar, who implicated him under drug consumption. Srikanth’s lawyer, John Satyan argued that at the time of his arrest, no drug was found in Srikanth’s possession, which throws light on the lack of direct evidence.
Krishna’s legal representative said that Krishna was detained despite voluntarily cooperating in police interrogation. The lawyer said that the arrest notice lacked specific reasons for custody and mentioned that medical tests revealed that Krishna did not consume drugs. At this point, the emphasis was on questioning the validity of arrest.
During the hearing, Justice Nirmal Kumar questioned the prosecution, asking, “Each of them bought how much drug?” The government lawyer said that the arrest stems from a comprehensive investigation into the drug circulation associated with the case of attempt to murder. This reference added complexity to legal proceedings.
The details were revealed during an investigation involving a former AIADMK worker, which led to the arrest of primary suspect, Praveen Kumar, whose statement implicated the actors. It was clarified that Srikanth was caught at home with his child, which was a point of dispute during the hearing.
For conditional bail, both actors need to post personal bonds of Rs 10,000 and provide certainty from two persons of the same amount. In addition, they are made mandatory to appear daily before the investigating officer until the next notice. The purpose of these conditions is to ensure their cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Initially, Justice Nirmal Kumar indicated that an order would be passed the next day. However, the decision was intensified in the afternoon when both sides were called for the final decision. This Swift decision was unexpected and added a new twist to the proceedings.
This decision allows Srikanth and Krishna temporary relief, although they remain under strict circumstances as the investigation continues.
