Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa, both prominent Malayalam film directors, were arrested early Sunday along with their friend Shalif Mohammed for possessing hybrid ganja at a flat in Ernakulam. The raid, conducted by the Excise Department around 2 AM, followed a tip-off that drugs were being used in a rented flat owned by cinematographer Sameer Thahir.
The trio was found with 1.63 grams of hybrid ganja and was later released on station bail. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been filed against them. Further investigation is underway to identify the source of the drugs.
In response to the arrests, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) Directors’ Union suspended Rahman and Hamsa, with the union stating that further action will be taken after reviewing the investigation’s progress.
Excise Deputy Commissioner T M Maju confirmed that Sameer Thahir would also be summoned for questioning. The Excise Department, supported by the government, is focused on dismantling the drug network. This incident comes just days after actor Shine Tom Chacko was arrested in a drug case.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan criticized drug consumption in the film industry and called for stricter enforcement, stressing the importance of targeting drug suppliers rather than just consumers.
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