
New Delhi, February 6, 2026: A significant drug bust in Chennai has led to the arrest of eight individuals, including budding Tamil and Malayalam actress Anju Krishna. The operation, conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) South team, has sent ripples through the regional film industry.
The incident occurred on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in the Valasaravakkam neighborhood of Chennai. Acting on a tip-off regarding the movement of narcotics, the ANIU team, led by Inspector Johnny Chellappa, launched a targeted operation.
The investigation first led to the detention of a 33-year-old man named Vigneshwaran in Nesapakkam. During interrogation, he revealed he had procured drugs from Venkatesh Kumar (31). To catch the ringleader, police deployed a decoy customer to arrange a meeting. When Venkatesh Kumar arrived in a car near a landmark in Valasaravakkam, police intercepted the vehicle and arrested everyone inside and around it.
During the search, authorities recovered a variety of synthetic and natural drugs, along with communication devices. The seized items included:
Anju Krishna is a 30-year-old actress originally from Pazhayannur village in Thrissur, Kerala. She began her career in modeling before transitioning to the screen.
Alongside Anju Krishna, seven other individuals were taken into custody. Notably, Vincy Nivetha (26), an assistant director in the Tamil film industry, was among those arrested. Other associates identified include:
The arrested individuals were handed over to the Valasaravakkam police for formal processing. They were subsequently produced before a magistrate court and have been remanded to judicial custody. The police are continuing their investigation to determine if there is a larger distribution network targeting members of the film and television industry.