Directors Khalid Rahman, Ashraf Hamza held with hybrid ganja, two arrested from Sameer Thahir’s flat

KOCHI: Two young Malayalam directors identified as Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza have been arrested with hybrid ganja. They were arrested by the excise department. One identified as Shahid Muhammad was also arrested with them. The three were arrested from the flat of cinematographer Sameer Thahir in Kochi.

1.5 grams of hybrid ganja were seized from the directors. The ganja was recovered after a raid conducted by the excise department Sunday morning at 2 am. The search was carried out following a tip-off. The three were later released on station bail. The excise officials clarified that they were released on station bail because they did not find commercial quantities of ganja. The excise officials said the directors arrested are regular drug users.

Khalid Rahman's Alappuzha Gymkhana is running successfully by crossing the 50-crore mark globally when the director was arrested in the ganja case. Khalid Rahman has directed films like Unda, Thallumala, Anuraga Karikkin Vellam and Love. He played a notable role in the box office hit film Manjummal Boys. Ashraf Hamza is the director of films like Thamasha, Bheemante Vazhi and Sulaikha Manzil. He is also the co-writer of Thallumala.