Kerala Police arrested Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko on Saturday for suspected drug consumption, authorities confirmed. According to officials, a medical examination and further legal proceedings are underway.

Chacko faces charges under Sections 27 (consumption of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances) and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, according to reports.

The arrest follows an incident where Kochi city police issued a notice to Chacko on Friday, summoning him for questioning. The notice was linked to an alleged escape from a hotel during an anti-drug raid. As Chacko was not at his Thrissur residence, the notice was handed to his family.

A senior police officer clarified, “The notice was issued because the incident falls under the Ernakulam North Police Station’s jurisdiction.” Chacko was directed to appear before the Ernakulam North Police Sub-Inspector on Saturday to explain his actions during the raid.

Hotel raid and alleged escape

On Wednesday night, the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) conducted a raid at a hotel near Kaloor around 10:45 pm, targeting a suspect in a drug-related case. Although the suspect was not found, police discovered Chacko’s name in the hotel’s guest register. When officers approached his third-floor room, he allegedly fled the scene.

CCTV footage and a viral video reportedly show Chacko escaping the hotel upon noticing the police. While no drugs were found during the raid, preliminary evidence points to Chacko as the individual who fled. No case has been filed directly related to the hotel incident due to the absence of recovered substances.

Recent Controversy

Chacko recently faced scrutiny after actor Vincy Aloshious accused him of “inappropriate behaviour” on the set of the unreleased film Soothravakyam. Aloshious had initially shared her concerns on Instagram, alleging misconduct by a co-actor under the influence of drugs. She later named Chacko in a formal complaint to the Film Chamber and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

However, Aloshious expressed frustration over the media leak of Chacko’s name and indicated her willingness to withdraw the complaint.

In a recent social media post, renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap issued an apology for remarks perceived as offensive toward the Brahmin community. His comments triggered a significant backlash, resulting in threats of violence directed at his family, including his daughter, and colleagues.

The controversy erupted after Kashyap questioned the uproar surrounding his upcoming film, “Phule,” a biopic about the influential social reformer Jyotirao Phule. Engaging with critics in the comments section, he made a particularly inflammatory comment suggesting he would “pee on Brahmin,” which quickly ignited outrage and led to a police complaint against him in Mumbai.

“This is my apology, not for my overall post but specifically for that one line taken out of context, and for the hatred it has stirred,” Kashyap wrote. “No action or speech justifies your daughter, family, friends, and colleagues receiving rape and death threats from those who claim to uphold tradition.” He provided a more emotional continuation in Hindi, reflecting on the impact of the situation on his loved ones.

Kashyap has previously spoken out about how his candid opinions, particularly on social media, have exposed his family to threats, a situation he has been vocal about, especially concerning his daughter, Aliyah Kashyap.

The film “Phule,” directed by Ananth Mahadevan, was initially set to release on April 11 but faced delays due to protests from various Brahmin groups. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has since requested several modifications, including the removal of references to caste.

After these changes, the film is now scheduled for release on April 25. Mahadevan has stated that caste and gender discrimination remain pressing issues that require attention and dialogue.

India on Saturday expressed strong condemnation over the murder of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a notable leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated that Roy’s killing is part of a broader pattern of systematic persecution faced by Hindu minorities in Bangladesh under the interim government.

“We are disturbed by the abduction and brutal murder of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a leader of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. This incident is consistent with a troubling trend of systematic oppression of Hindu minorities by the interim government, while those responsible for previous attacks operate with impunity,” Jaiswal wrote on the platform X.

“We condemn this act and once again urge the interim government to fulfil its duty to safeguard the rights of all minorities, including Hindus, without offering excuses or making distinctions,” he added.

According to local media reports, Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a 58-year-old Hindu leader, was allegedly kidnapped from his residence and subsequently beaten to death in the Dinajpur district of northern Bangladesh. His body was recovered on Thursday night, as reported by The Daily Star, citing police and family sources. His wife, Shantana, mentioned that he received a phone call around 4:30 PM, which she suspects was from the abductors confirming his location.

“About half an hour later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and reportedly abducted Bhabesh from their home,” the report indicated, noting that Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he suffered severe abuse.

After being returned home in an unconscious state, his family hurried him to a hospital in Dinajpur, but he was declared dead upon arrival.

Roy held the position of vice president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a significant figure within the local Hindu community.

On Friday, India dismissed statements from Bangladeshi officials regarding violence in West Bengal, urging Dhaka to prioritise the protection of minority rights rather than engaging in “virtue signalling.”