The Kochi City police appear removed from satisfied about actor Shine Tom Chacko’s reasoning for fleeing a hotel within the metropolis during an inspection by the town police’s District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) final Wednesday (April 16, 2025) evening.
During the hours-long interrogation on Saturday, the actor advised the police that he fled as he feared for his life since he had mistaken the police personnel for goons.
“If that was the case, he could have contacted the police or approached us later. But that didn’t happen. We are verifying it as part of the investigation and further information is also being sought from him,” Putta Vimaladitya, District Police Chief (Kochi City), advised the media in Kochi on Monday (April 21).
He mentioned the actor could be summoned once more if the police needed to elicit additional info.
Asked about whether or not the actor was a ordinary consumer of medication, Mr. Vimaladitya mentioned it will be untimely to verify since extra particulars should be verified. “Also, there is hardly any specific evidence about his alleged drug transactions, though it is under investigation,” he mentioned.
Mr. Vimaladitya mentioned the investigation was within the preliminary phases and therefore whether or not extra accused had been concerned couldn’t be confirmed now. “We registered the case because his interrogation prima facie revealed things that need to be investigated. That he fled the hotel during the police check was also suspicious. However, we haven’t taken any coercive action yet,” he mentioned.
The police haven’t but obtained any proof linking the co-accused of Mr. Chacko to any drug racket. Ahmmed Murshad, 25, of Malappuram, who was allegedly present in Mr. Chacko’s hotel room, was additionally booked.
“We have taken steps to collect information and follow-up action on the allegation of drug use on film sets. However, there were no specific details about the use of drugs on film sets in Mr. Chacko’s statement,” he added.
“We cannot say whether more charges could be added in the case against the actor as the investigation is at a preliminary stage. If the investigation warrants that, we will do so. A meeting of the investigating officers may also be held,” the police chief mentioned.
Asked whether or not the police had been making an attempt to trace down the drug peddler in quest of whom the DANSAF workforce inspected the hotel, Mr. Vimaladitya mentioned that, “even otherwise, the city police were taking necessary action to monitor and act against drug peddlers.”
“We are also registering a lot of cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,” he added.
Mr. Chacko was arrested on Saturday under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 238 (inflicting disappearance of proof of offence) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act Sections 27 (b) (consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance) and Section 29 (punishment for abetment and legal conspiracy). He was launched on bail later.
Published – April 21, 2025 01:07 pm IST
