Khalid Rahman, Ashraf Hamza held for hybrid ganja possession

In a late-night raid, Malayalam film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, along with a third individual, Shalif Mohammed, were arrested by the

Excise Department

in Kochi for possession of

hybrid ganja

.

2 am raid
According to Mathrubhumi News, the operation took place around 2 am on Sunday at a flat near the Gosree Bridge, reportedly owned by cinematographer Sameer Thahir. Authorities recovered 1.6 grams of hybrid ganja from the premises.

Granted station bail
Following their arrest, the trio was granted station bail. Sources from the Excise Department confirmed that the raid was carried out based on confidential information, highlighting growing concerns about drug use within the industry.

On the work front, Khalid Rahman’s recent outing was the Naslen starrer ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ which turned out to be a superhit with glowing reviews.
Update on Shine Tom Chacko case
Meanwhile, the Malayalam film industry witnessed another controversy involving actor Shine Tom Chacko earlier this week. Actress Vincy Aloshious filed a formal complaint against Shine, accusing him of drug use and inappropriate behavior on a film set. The matter was addressed during an internal committee meeting held in Kochi, where Shine Tom Chacko apologised to Vincy and the committee members, assuring them that he would maintain professionalism going forward. He insisted that his behavior was not intentional.
What was the issue?
Following the meeting, the Kerala Film Body issued Shine Tom Chacko a final warning. Vincy had earlier made a strong statement during a "No to Drugs" campaign, vowing not to work with actors who use drugs. Her comments sparked widespread discussion, leading her to release a clarifying video on Instagram where she explained the uncomfortable situation she and a colleague faced due to an inebriated co-actor.