Malayalam film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza have been arrested for alleged drug possession, following the detention of Tom Shine Chacko on similar charges.
In a daring bust carried out by the Kochi Excise Department, three blokes, notably Malayalam film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, alongside their buddy Shalif Mohammed, found themselves in hot water for being in the possession of a funky variant of weed, colloquially known as hybrid ganja.
The headline-grabbing arrests took place during a mid-night raid at an apartment rented by cinematographer Sameer Thahir, located in Kochi, Kerala. The operation unfolded around 2:00 AM following a confidential tip. During the raid, the authorities nabbed 1.63 grams of hybrid ganja, a bong, and a grinder on the spot [1][3].
The accused, all well-known figures in the Malayalam film industry, were taken into custody under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, but luckily for them, the seized amount was below the commercial quantity. As a result, they were granted station bail [1][3].
The arrest didn’t just shake up the high-powered world of Malayalam cinema, but also compelled the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) Directors' Union to suspend both directors while investigations run their course [2][3]. Adding to the suspense, the Excise Department is currently probing the source of the drugs, and they've summoned Sameer Thahir for questioning [1][2].
This operation serves as another testament to the Kochi Excise Department's tireless efforts to keep the streets clean and suppress drug use under their "Operation Clean Slate" drive [1].
- Amidst the shockwaves in the Malayalam film industry, directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, alongside Shalif Mohammed, were arrested for possession of hybrid ganja during a raid at Kochi.
- Following their arrest under the NDPS Act, FEFKA Directors' Union suspended both Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, as investigations into the source of the drugs continue.
- The arrest of these celebrities has created headlines in entertainment and general-news outlets, as well as the crime-and-justice sector.
- Without commercial quantities of ganja in their possession, the three accused were granted station bail, an event that highlights the Kochi Excise Department's continued commitment to keeping the streets clean under their "Operation Clean Slate" drive.
