Reel with pet monkey goes viral; Superstar Vikram lands in controversy

South Indian superstar Vikram landed in controversy after sharing a video with a rare species of monkey. The star shared the video with the monkey on Instagram on August 9. However, the video was deleted within 24 hours. This was done after reports emerged that the Forest Department initiated an investigation against Vikram's daughter Akshita's father-in-law for possessing the endangered species.

It is reported that Vikram's sharing of the video with the monkey led to the initiation of an investigation against his daughter's father-in-law and businessman CK Ranganathan.

The monkey was identified as a Lar Gibbon, an endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Wildlife Protection Act of India. Reports say that Ranganathan officially purchased the monkey, which was brought from Manipur to Erode, Tamil Nadu, in June. Some have also alleged that the monkey may have been smuggled from Southeast Asia. It is also reported that Ranganathan does not have sufficient documents to claim ownership of the pet. However, Vikram has not yet responded to the reports.

CK Ranganathan is the founder chairman of the brand Cavinkare. His son Manu Ranjith is the husband of Vikram's daughter Akshita.