Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko arrested after five-hour grilling in Kochi, released on bail

His arrest was recorded after about a four-hour-long interrogation in connection with an incident in which he allegedly fled from a hotel in Kochi during a narcotics raid.

Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko, who fled from a hotel in Kochi during a search by police's anti-narcotic team on Wednesday, has been arraigned in a NDPS case. 

Chacko, who appeared at the Ernakulam town police station in Kochi on Saturday as per a summons, was arrested by the police after quizzing him for around five hours. He was later released on bail. Various sections of the NDPS Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for use of narcotic substances and destruction of evidence were invoked against him. 

Financial dealings with a drug peddler turned out to be crucial evidence against Chacko even as the actor tried to claim that he ran away from the hotel owing to fear that some gang was coming to attack him. 

There are unconfirmed reports that Chacko confessed that he used to use synthetic drugs and ganja. 

Police had also collected samples from Chacko for forensic tests to find drug use. Police were also learnt to have seized his phone for examination. 

Malappuram native Murshid, who was present in the hotel room while Chacko made the filmy style escape by jumping through the window, was also arraigned in the case. 

The action against Chacko came close on the heels of a court in Kochi recently acquitting him in a case for using and possessing cocaine at a smoke party in Kochi. The court had cited serious lapses on the part of police which  weakened the case. 

Hence, the present move of the police could serve as a damage control one also. 

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists and other film organisations are likely to take action against Chacko. 

Actress Vincy Aloshious recently alleged that Chacko misbehaved with her at a filmset. Though she complained to film forums, she refused to file a police complaint against Chacko. 

Forty-one year old Chacko began his career as an assistant director and side actor. He got a breakthrough with his lead role in the film 'Ithihasa' in 2014. He acted in over 30 Malayalam films and a few Tamil and Telugu films. 

The fresh row over Chacko has once again brought to focus the allegations raised by producers' association around two years back that some young actors were creating trouble at film sets owing to drug abuse. A woman recently held for drug peddling also stated that many young actors used to buy drugs from her.