3, Including Malayalam Directors, Arrested For Possessing Hybrid Ganja In Kerala

Three persons, including noted Malayalam directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa, known for several notable movies, were arrested with hybrid ganja from a flat here in the early hours of Sunday, Excise officials said.

1.63 grams of hybrid ganja was seized from them, and the trio were released on station bail later, they said.

In the wake of the development, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) Directors' Union suspended both filmmakers from the body.

In a statement issued here, the union president Renji Panickar and general secretary G S Vijayan said further steps would be initiated after examining the progress of the ongoing investigation.

According to Excise department sources, a Special Squad raided the flat at around 2.00 am as they received a tip-off that drugs were being used in a flat rented by cinematographer Sameer Thahir.

The third person arrested along with Mr Rahman and Mr Hamsa was their friend Shalif Mohammed, they said.

"1.63 grams of hybrid ganja was seized from them, and a case was registered against them under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. They were released on bail later," an Excise official said.

A detailed probe was launched to find out the source of the drugs they possessed, Excise added.

Excise Deputy Commissioner (Ernakulam) T M Maju said Thahir would also be summoned for interrogation soon in connection with the incident.

"If he gave a space for these filmmakers for consuming drugs in his flat, we have to question him also," he told reporters later in the day.

He said the Excise Department has complete support from the government and the concerned minister in these anti-drug operations.

While Khalid Rahman is the director of hit movies like "Anuraga Karikkinvellam" and "Unda", Ashraf Hamsa is the maker of films including "Bheemante Vazhi". Mr Rahman's latest movie, "Alappuzha Gymkhana", is currently running in theatres.

The incident happened days after actor Shine Tom Chacko was arrested in a drug case after escaping from a hotel during a raid.

Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan wanted organisations like FEFKA and AMMA to take a decision not to co-operate with anyone in the film industry who consumes or distributes drugs.

Drug consumption is prevalent in all sectors, and there have already been allegations in connection with the film industry, the LoP told reporters in nearby Paravur when his reaction was sought on the arrest of filmmakers.

Celebrities, who influence young people as role models, should not be drug consumers, he opined.

Stressing the need for more stringent action against drug consumption, he said raids should be conducted wherever the usage of narcotics is reported.

"The problem is that the government is not paying much attention to the enforcement. There is no point in catching those who consume drugs and release them on bail later," he said adding that the need of the hour is to find out those who supply the contraband substance.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)