Excise arrests cinematographer Sameer Thahir, released on bail
The Excise department on Monday arrested cinematographer-turned-director Sameer Thahir in connection with the incident in which Malayalam movie directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa were nabbed from his apartment, near Marin Drive, in Kochi with 1.5 g of suspected hybrid ganja during a pre-dawn raid on April 27, 2025.
Later, he was released on bail. He was booked under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Section 25 (punishment for allowing premises, etc, to be used for commission of an offence). The flat was taken on rent under his name, according to Excise officials.
After the arrest of Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa, the Excise officials had served a notice on him asking to appear for questioning. He appeared at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Ernakulam, here on Monday afternoon.
'Unaware'
He reportedly told the sleuths that he was not aware of the consumption of drugs by the filmmakers. On the day of their arrest, he had left the apartment in the morning.
The officers said that they had not come across any evidence to show that he had consumed drugs.
The apartment is purportedly being used for film-related discussions and work. It was placed under the scanner after the Excise had received a tip-off about the suspected use of drugs by visitors. Besides the two filmmakers, one Shalif Muhammad was arrested along with them.
According to excise officers, the director duo was about to use ganja when they were nabbed from the apartment. Shalif had reportedly bought the contraband from a supplier in the State. While the excise has details about the supplier, including his mobile phone number, he could not be tracked yet.
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