Drug Rehab For Corrie Star Dev
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Coronation Street star Jimmi Harkishin is to keep his job with the soap - but is taking time off to seek treatment for his drug problems.
Harkishin, who plays shopkeeper Dev Alahan, has been granted indefinite leave by bosses at Granada.
The actor was pictured by a Sunday newspaper snorting cocaine. Harkishin, 45, had a meeting with Granada bosses.
A spokeswoman said: "Both Granada and Jimmi Harkishin recognise that he has some problems that he needs to sort out.
"He will be taking a break from the show while he seeks help to deal with those issues. This is with the full support of the company, Coronation Street and his colleagues."
Granada did not consider sacking Harkishin despite newspaper revelations.
The spokeswoman said: "There was never any question of him being sacked.
"We are a responsible employer and we have a duty of care to our employees. The pressures Jimmi has been under are a result of him appearing in our show. We will help Jimmi to seek the help that he needs."
Bosses have set no time limit for Harkishin's treatment but he is likely to be gone for several months. He has already filmed five weeks' worth of scenes in advance and storylines will be re-written to explain his absence.
Dev was recently at the centre of one of the ITV soap's most explosive plots when his ex "Mad" Maya torched his shops in revenge for him marrying Sunita.
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