The Kochi City police in Kerala have arrested actor Shine Tom Chacko after more than four hours of interrogation at the Ernakulam Town North police station on Saturday (April 19, 2025). This comes after he was acquitted earlier this year in a 2015 drug case.
Mr. Chacko had turned up at the station at 10 a.m. based on a summons issued by the police for questioning in connection with an incident in which he allegedly fled a hotel at Kaloor in Kochi city during a raid by the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) late on Wednesday night.
As per initial reports, has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act Sections 27 (punishment for consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance) and Section 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy). The first information report (FIR) has been registered. The charges are bailable, it is learnt.
He was primarily summoned to be questioned as to why he fled upon seeing the police team at the hotel. Reportedly, the actor claimed he was not aware that it was a police team but “mistook them for ruffians out to assault him”.
Details collected
Reportedly, the police have collected his mobile call data record and WhatsApp chat. A team of senior police officers, including Ernakulam Central Assistant Commissioner C. Jayakumar and Narcotics Cell Assistant Commissioner K.A. Abdul Salam.
The police have also collected CCTV footage of Mr. Chacko fleeing the hotel at Kaloor. Allegedly, he fled his room on the third floor through the window by jumping onto the asbestos sheet of the second floor. He allegedly crossed the swimming area, took the stairs to the reception area, and fled riding pillion on a two-wheeler.
Reportedly, the DANSAF team reached the hotel after receiving a tip-off about a drug peddler. They learnt about Mr. Chacko’s presence in the hotel through the register and chose to knock on his door.
Though there was no response initially, another person opened the door. The police, however, failed to recover any narcotic substances from the room despite a thorough search.
Published – April 19, 2025 02:43 pm IST