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The Hindu
30-04-2025
- The Hindu
Arrest of two directors with ‘hybrid ganja': excise serves notice on director Sameer Thahir
The excise officials have served a notice directing cinematographer-turned-director Sameer Thahir to appear before the agency in connection with the incident in which Malayalam movie directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa were nabbed with 1.5 g of suspected hybrid ganja during a pre-dawn raid on Sunday. They were arrested from an apartment near Marine Drive that belonged to Mr. Thahir. Reportedly, he has been asked to appear within a week. Another person, Shalif Muhammad, was also arrested along with the directors. Among other things, the excise may ask Mr. Thahir whether he was aware of and had given consent to the use of ganja in his apartment, an offence which may attract the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Section 25A (punishment for using property for illegal drug activities). The apartment is purportedly being used for film-related discussions and work. According to excise officials, 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 Kerala. While the excise has details about the supplier, including his mobile phone number, he could not be tracked yet. More details about the source of the drug could be known only after apprehending him, said excise sources. The accused may be further summoned if the investigation officer gets any fresh leads warranting it. Mr. Rahman is the director of movies Alappuzha Gymkhana, Thallumala and Unda, while Mr. Hamsa directed Thamaasha and Bheemante Vazhi. Since the quantity in their possession was small, the accused were released on bail. They reportedly claimed that they converged at the apartment to discuss a movie. According to excise sources, the duo had escaped by a whisker in a similar raid at the apartment in March. Since then, the FEFKA Directors' Union has decided to suspend the two directors. The raid was carried out on specific intelligence input, complete with the apartment details.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Hybrid ganja' found in possession of film directors sourced from supplier in Kerala, say Excise officials
The suspected hybrid ganja with which two prominent Malayalam movie directors were nabbed from a flat in Kochi recently was reportedly sourced from a supplier in Kerala, according to Excise officials. Film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa were arrested with 1.50 grams of suspected hybrid ganja when they allegedly were just about to use it during a pre-dawn raid on Sunday (April 27, 2025). Another person, Shalif Muhammad, was also arrested from the apartment that reportedly belonged to director-cum-cinematographer Sameer Thahir. 'It was Shalif who reportedly bought the contraband from a supplier. We have details about the supplier and are trying to track him down. His mobile phone remains switched off. More details about the source of the drug could be known only on his detention,' said Excise sources. Excise officials are set to issue a notice to Mr. Thahir shortly. The accused may be further summoned if the investigation officer gets any fresh leads warranting it. Mr. Rahman is the director of movies Alappuzha Gymkhana, Thallumala and Unda, while Mr. Hamsa directed Thamaasha and Bheemante Vazhi. Since the quantity in their possession was small, the accused were released on bail. They reportedly claimed that they converged at the apartment to discuss a movie. According to Excise sources, the duo had escaped by a whisker in a similar raid at the apartment in March. Since then, the FEFKA Directors' Union has decided to suspend the two directors. The raid was carried out on specific intelligence input, complete with the apartment details. It came at a time when the debate about the influence of drugs in the film industry has turned louder. Actors Shine Tom Chacko and Sreenath Bhasi have appeared before excise officials in Alapuzha on Monday in connection with the seizure of 3 kg of suspected hybrid ganja from a couple in a resort in Omanapuzha in Alapuzha. Allegedly, Excise officials found mobile phone call records and WhatsApp chats linking the woman to the actors. Mr. Chacko was also involved in another bizarre incident in which he fled a hotel in Kaloor during a raid by the Kochi city police' District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force on April 16. Later, the Ernakulam Town North police summoned him and booked him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ganja seized from 2 directors, friend
Kochi: Excise sleuths seized 1.6g of hybrid ganja from two popular Malayalam movie directors and another individual when they were about to abuse it at a flat in Kochi in the early hours of Sunday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Directors (Thallumala and Alappuzha Gymkhana fame) and (Bheemante Vazhi) as well as their friend Shalif Mohammed were arrested under the NDPS Act but were given bail as the quantity of the seized ganja was minuscule. A bong (a type of hooka), crushing machine and an OCB paper (smoking paper) too were seized. Excise has information about the person who gave the ganja to the trio and efforts are on to track him, a source said. The three were nabbed from an apartment along Abraham Madamakkal Road in the city. The excise has information that the flat belongs to popular cinematographer-director Sameer Thahir. "We will carry out an investigation to see if he was aware of the place being used to abuse drugs. If he was aware, then his statement will also be recorded since providing space to abuse substances can also be brought under the purview of the probe," said an excise officer. A team led by special squad inspector Pramod KP made the seizure around 2am based on confidential information. "When we entered the room, three individuals, including the two directors, were home. They had gathered to abuse the drugs and their arrest was recorded following procedures. Since the seizure was of a minor quantity, they were let off on bail after a medical examination," said Pramod. "They were at the apartment for discussions about a film. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We had gone to the apartment with the security guard so as to not arouse any suspicion. Had they known that it was sleuths at the door, they could have destroyed the drugs. They opened the door on seeing the security guard and we were able to catch them with the contraband," said an officer. Excise officials said not only film industry individuals but drug abusers from all sectors were under scrutiny. They said hybrid ganja was getting increasingly popular and efforts were on to keep it in check by finding the source and preventing its import. Fefka union suspends duo In the wake of the arrest, Film Employees Federation of Kerala (Fefka) Directors' Union suspended both filmmakers from the body. In a statement issued in Kochi, union president Renji Panickar and general secretary GS Vijayan said further steps would be initiated after examining the progress of the ongoing investigation. Opposition leader VD Satheesan, meanwhile, wanted organisations like Fefka and AMMA to take a decision not to cooperate with anyone in the film industry who consumes or distributes drugs. The arrest of Rahman and Hamza has happened days after actor Shine Tom Chacko was held in a drug case after escaping from a hotel during a police raid.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Two film directors held during pre-dawn raid at Kochi apartment, on the charge of possessing suspected hybrid ganja
Personnel of the Excise Department arrested two film directors during a pre-dawn raid on Sunday (April 27, 2025), on the charge of possessing suspected hybrid ganja, from the apartment of a director cum cinematographer in Kochi. While Khalid Rahman directed movies like Alappuzha Gymkhana, Thallumala and Unda, Ashraf Hamsa directed movies like Thamaasha and Bheemante Vazhi. The duo and one Shahid Mohammed were held from the apartment of Samir Thahir with 1.5 gm of suspected hybrid ganja. They reportedly claimed that they converged at the apartment to discuss about a movie. 'The raid was done on the basis of a tip off. The duo were released on bail by 7 a.m., since the quantity of the drug was minimum. They escaped by a whisker a similar raid we had conducted in March at the apartment. A probe is on to identify the source of the hybrid ganja,' said a senior Excise officer. Their arrest comes a few days after the controversy over an incident involving actor Shine Tom Chacko who reportedly fled from a hotel in Kaloor during a raid by the police. Subsequently, the Excise team probing a hybrid ganja seizure case served notices to him and also to actor Sreenath Bhasi, directing them to appear before them on April 28, 2025.
India Today
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Directors Khalid Rahman, Ashraf Hamza arrested for possession of hybrid ganja
Three people, including prominent filmmakers Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, were arrested by Excise in Kochi for possession of hybrid ganja (weed). The third person, who is a friend of the directors, has been identified as Shalif Mohammed. Excise seized 1.63gm hybrid ganja from them. They were later released on station were arrested from an apartment in Kochi in a late-night raid after the team received confidential information. The apartment reportedly belongs to a prominent cinematographer from the industry. advertisementAs per excise, the ganja was brought to the apartment for consumption. 'From the initial questioning, it was understood that they have been using ganja regularly for years now. They were in the apartment for a movie discussion. We have to investigate further about the supplier based on the information they gave', said an excise official. Khalid Rahman is known for the newly released film 'Alappuzha Gymkhana', and 'Thallumala' and 'Unda'. Ashraf Hamza is known for directing movies like 'Thamaasha', and 'Bheemante Vazhi'.Must Watch
