In a shocking turn of events that has rung alarm bells in the Malayalam film industry, renowned filmmakers Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza were arrested by the Excise Department for alleged possession of hybrid ganja. The arrest took place during a late-night raid on Sunday in Kochi.
Arrest Details
According to a report by Mathrubhumi, the raid was carried out at around 2 am at a flat close to the Gosree Bridge in Kochi. The Excise team, following a tip-off raided the entire building and have allegedly seized around 1.6 grams of drugs. The authorities arrested three people during the raid which included directors Khalid Rahman, Ashraf Hamza, and their close friend, Shalif Mohammed. All three were arrested but later released on station bail.
The flat in which the raid was conducted is reported to be owned by director and famous cinematographer Samee Thahir. Although Thahir himself was not around when the raid was conducted, the flat was occupied by the trio when the Excise Department conducted the raid. Shalif Mohammed, the third suspect arrested, is said to be a close acquaintance of both directors and is also known to be a part of the Malayalam film circuit.
Khalid Rahman is known for directing movies like Alappuzha Gymkhana and the action-comedy success Thallumaala, featuring Tovino Thomas. Ashraf Hamza received critical acclaim for his work on movies like Thamaasha and Bheemante Vazhi. The arrest has sparked conversations online about drug use in the film industry, and fans are eagerly waiting to see how the legal proceedings will unfold.
