Hybrid ganja seizure: Sameer Thahir to face questioning; Was his Kochi flat a drug hub?

Kochi: Director and cinematographer Sameer Thahir will be questioned in connection with the seizure of hybrid cannabis from a Kochi flat where directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza were arrested. Khalid and Ashraf were caught from a flat registered in Sameer Thahir’s name. A notice will be issued summoning Sameer Thahir for questioning. This is the second time a raid has been conducted in this flat.

Excise officials stated that although the flat near the Gosree Bridge was taken for scriptwriting and film discussions, drug use was also rampant there. Reports suggest that people regularly gathered at the flat for drug use, and authorities had received intelligence earlier.

The Excise Department apprehended three individuals, including the two directors, around 2 am on Sunday, seizing 1.6 grams of hybrid cannabis. After their arrest, they were released on station bail. Along with Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, another person named Shalif Mohammed, their friend, was also arrested. It was Shalif who reportedly procured the hybrid cannabis from intermediaries.

The investigation is progressing into who supplied the cannabis to them. Authorities are currently focusing on the statements given by the three arrested persons. Indications are that a young man supplied the cannabis. The raid was based on confidential information. When the Excise team arrived, the group was reportedly preparing to use the cannabis.

The arrest of director Khalid Rahman coincided with the successful run of his film Alappuzha Gymkhana in theatres. Released during Vishu, the film received a highly positive response from audiences. Khalid Rahman’s earlier films Thallumaala, Love and Anuraga Karikkin Vellam had also been widely acclaimed. Love became a film that sparked discussions among Malayali audiences beyond its box office success. Ashraf Hamza’s Thamaasha was another film that performed well at the box office.

Meanwhile, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) is preparing to take action against the arrested directors. A final decision will be made after a meeting of the FEFKA Directors' Union.