Shine Tom Chacko arrested after admitting drug use; released on bail

KOCHI: Actor Shine Tom Chacko, who attempted to flee from law enforcement by jumping from the third floor of a hotel on Wednesday night, was not able to defend himself effectively during the police's questioning yesterday. Despite initially claiming he is neither a drug user nor associated with drug dealings, Shine changed his stance after the police presented compelling evidence, including bank transaction records, WhatsApp chats, and mobile phone data. They concluded that Shine is indeed a drug user and denied his claim of not having used any narcotics during the hotel raid.

He was arrested in connection with a drug case but was later released on bail. The bail was granted due to a lack of direct seizure of narcotics at the time. Shine made his escape from a room in Vedanta Hotel in Kaloor, where Ahmad Murshad (25), a native of Valavannur, Malappuram, was also present and has been named as the second accused.

Shine claimed that he jumped from the third floor to the second-floor roof, and from there into the swimming pool, thinking that a gang of men were coming to attack him. However, the FIR states that his real intention was to destroy evidence.

Shine, who was accompanied by his lawyer and two others, was questioned for around four and a half hours at the North Police Station, after which he was arrested. He was released on station bail by around 5 PM. He has been asked to appear again on April 21st at 10 AM.

The interrogation was led by Ernakulam Central ACP C. Jayakumar, Ernakulam ACP P. Rajkumar, and Narcotics ACP Abdul Salam. A list of 32 questions was prepared. The case was formally registered at 2:15 PM. He was then taken to Ernakulam General Hospital for medical examination by 3 PM and later released on bail in the evening under his parents' custody.

Shine escaped from the hotel around 11 PM on Wednesday night. CCTV footage showing him running away had also surfaced.

Named as first accused; samples sent for Forensics

• The case has been filed under NDPS Act sections 27(B), 29 and BNS section 238, making Shine the first accused. Charges include drug use, abetting drug use, conspiracy, and evidence destruction. To determine if Shine had consumed narcotics, samples of his hair and nails were collected and sent to the Thiruvananthapuram Forensic Lab.
• It has also been revealed that Shine had links with Shajeer, a Malappuram native involved in drug dealings, and Tasleem, who was recently caught in Alappuzha with hybrid cannabis. Call logs and financial transactions involving them could pose legal issues for Shine.
• Previously, Shine was acquitted in the state’s first cocaine case. However, he is now again under scrutiny—this time related to the Alappuzha hybrid cannabis case and actress Vincy Alosious’ revelations.