Kerala college drug bust: SFI claims 'cannabis found in KSU workers’ room, Abhiraj innocent'

Kochi: Devaraj, SFI Kalamassery Area President, has denied allegations that SFI leaders were involved in the recent cannabis seizure at the Kalamassery Polytechnic College men's hostel. In a statement made after the raid, Devaraj clarified that cannabis was seized from the rooms of KSU workers Adil and Akash and strongly defended SFI leader Abhiraj, who was accused of being involved.

According to Devaraj, about two kilograms of cannabis were recovered from the rooms of students Adil and Akash, who are linked to KSU. He further stated that Adil, who had contested for the post of Arts Club Secretary for KSU last year, was not present at the hostel during the raid. Adil had reportedly escaped from the hostel when the search took place on Thursday night. Devaraj added that Abhiraj, the college union secretary and SFI leader, was not in the hostel at the time of the raid and was instead inside the campus working on the decoration for the upcoming SFI unit conference.

Devaraj detailed the sequence of events, saying that the raid involved searches of both the lower and upper floors of the hostel. The cannabis was found specifically in the room of Akash and Adil on the lower floor. Akash has since been arrested in connection with the cannabis seizure. Devaraj also revealed that Akash informed the police that Adil, along with another KSU member student named Ananthu, had brought cannabis onto the campus. 

Devaraj stressed that the seven students who are part of the union or members of the SFI committee on the campus do not use any intoxicants. He further emphasised that no cannabis was found in the possession of SFI leader Abhiraj, nor his bag or shirt. When Abhiraj arrived at the scene after learning of the raid, he reportedly told the police that he had no involvement with the drugs and did not know about their presence. However, Devaraj alleged that the police threatened Abhiraj and filed a case against him despite the lack of evidence.

"SFI is 100 percent sure that Abhiraj is not someone who would use drugs or get involved in anything wrong," Devaraj stated, adding that the SFI in Kalamassery has consistently been vocal against drug use and the drug mafia. "We are not ready to encourage such trends under any circumstances."

Devaraj also alleged that Adil and Ananthu had fled and criticised the police for not investigating their whereabouts.

According to sources, nine grams of cannabis were found in the rooms of Abhiraj and Aadityan. Both students were later released on station bail. Additionally, 1.9 kg of cannabis was seized from another room during the raid.