Excise files chargesheet against Malayalam filmmakers in ganja case

The Excise department in Kerala has submitted the chargesheet in a case in which four people, including three Malayalam filmmakers, were earlier arrested on charges of possessing suspected ganja.

The Excise Enforcement and Anti-Narcotic Special Squad, Ernakulam, filed the chargesheet against directors Khalid Rahman, Ashraf Hamsa and Sameer Thahir and their friend Shalif Muhammad before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Ernakulam, recently, excise sources said on Friday (November 7, 2025).

The accused have been charged under Section 20(b)(ii)(A) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which deals with the punishment for offences involving a small quantity of cannabis, and Section 29 which handles punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy to commit any offence under the Act.

The punishment, if the charges are proven, could be limited to a fine since the case involves only a small quantity of ganja, the sources indicated. Up to 1 kg of ganja is considered to be small quantity as per the NDPS Act.

The case was registered after the Excise department nabbed Mr. Rahman, Mr. Hamsa and Mr. Muhammed from an apartment reportedly rented by Mr. Thahir, near Marine Drive, in Kochi with 1.5 g of suspected hybrid ganja during a pre-dawn raid on April 27. Mr. Thahir was arrested on May 5 when he was summoned for questioning in connection with the case. The accused were released on bail after their arrests were recorded. Though it was reported that the investigators had found details of the supplier of the narcotic substance, the person has not been traced yet.

While Mr. Rahman has directed movies such as Alappuzha Gymkhana, Thallumaala and Unda, Mr. Hamsa is the director of Thamaasha and Bheemante Vazhi. Cinematographer-turned-director Mr. Thahir is known for works including Chappa Kurishu and Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi.