South Indian actors Srikanth and Krishna can breathe a little easier. A court has given them conditional bail in a drug-related case. This comes after they were arrested on drug charges. Even with bail, they will remain under investigation.
Their journey to bail wasn’t straightforward. A special court in Chennai first said no to their requests. But the Madras High Court looked at their new pleas and granted them relief. This decision marks a significant step for the actors, who have been in the spotlight since their arrests.
Arguments from Their Lawyers
Their lawyers stood up for them in court. Srikanth’s lawyer, John Sathyan, pointed out that police found no drugs on him when he was arrested. This means there was no direct proof of his possession. This detail was key to his defense.
Krishna’s lawyer also made strong points. He argued Krishna cooperated with the police during their questions. Yet, police still held him. The lawyer also noted the arrest notice lacked specific reasons for his detention. Plus, a medical test showed Krishna had not used drugs. The defense team pushed these facts to question the legality of his initial arrest.
The Court’s Questions
During the hearing, Justice Nirmal Kumar asked the police a direct question. He wanted to know how much drug each actor had bought. The government lawyer explained the arrests. They were part of a bigger investigation. This probe looked into drug dealing connected to a murder attempt. Details came out during a check on a former political official. This led to the arrest of Praveen Kumar. He was the main person in this drug ring. His statement then pointed to the actors, leading to their arrests.
The Conditions for Bail
Srikanth and Krishna are now out on bail. But they must follow specific rules.
- Each actor needs to post a bond of Rs. 10,000.
- They also require two people to act as guarantors, each for Rs. 10,000.
- Both actors must report to the investigating officer every day. This daily check-in will continue until further notice from the court.
Srikanth was taken into custody on June 23. Krishna’s arrest followed a few days later, on June 26.