‘Hybrid ganja’ found in possession of film directors sourced from supplier in Kerala, say Excise officials

Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa.

The suspected hybrid ganja with which prominent Malayalam movie directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa were nabbed from a flat in Kochi recently was reportedly sourced from a supplier in Kerala, according to Excise officials.

Mr. Rahman and Mr. 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.

Meanwhile, 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 Alappuzha. 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.